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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microrepruductions  historiques 


\^^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notari/Notas  techniques  at  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  beat 
original  copy  available  for  filming   Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicaily  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  sigiiificantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'lnstiti.t  a  microfilm^  le  meilieur  exemplaire 
qu'll  lui  a  ixi  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
da  cat  exemplaire  qui  sont  paut-^tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normala  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


Coloured  covers/ 
I      I    Couvarture  da  couleur 


[~~]    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couvertura  endommagAa 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvarture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculAa 


□    Cover  title 
Le  titre  de 


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D 


n 


n 


missing/ 
couverture  manque 


I      i    Coloui  ad  maps/ 


arres  giographiques  en  couleur 


Colournd  ink  lie.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  de  couleur  lie   autre  que  bleue  ou  noirel 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Plenchus  at/  ou  illustrations  an  couleur 


□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli«  av 


■vac  d'autres  documents 


Tight  oinding  may  causa  shadows  or  dmortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lartliure  serree  peut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatorsion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  leaves  added  dcrmg  'eatoratlon  may 
appear  withm  the  text    Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  »jout*es 
lors  d  une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte. 
mais.  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n  ont 
pas  *t*  film*es. 


^ 


Additional  comments  /  Various  paglngs. 

Commentaires  fupplAmentairas 


D 
D 

□ 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pagaa  de  couleur 

Pagaa  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAa^ 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Piiges  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dAcolor^an.  tachetAes  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachees 


0?: 

□    Quality  of  print  vari 
Qualiti  inAgala  de  I' 


D 
0 


Showthrough/ 
ransparenca 


as/ 
mpression 


[~~|    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Comprend  du  material  suppl^mantaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues.  '*tc  .  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partietiement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  una  pelure. 
etc  .  ont  Ar*  filmAea  i  nouveau  de  facon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible 


This  Item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  retio  checked  below/ 

Ca  document  est  filme  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  cidassoun. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


2«X 


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13X 


1«X 


20X 


24X 


2ax 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  ii«r*  has  b««n  r«producad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Memorial  Univenity  of  St.  John's 


L'sxampiaira  iWmt  fut  rnproduit  grica  i  la 
g^nirositi  da: 

Mwnorial  Univenity  of  St.  John's 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  »rm  tfia  baat  quality 
possibia  considaring  ttia  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  ttta 
fi'ming  contract  spocificadona. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  fllmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  witti  a  printad  or  iliustratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  eopiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
■ion,  and  anding  on  tfia  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iliustratad  impraaaion. 


Laa  imagas  suivantas  ont  M  raproduitaa  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  taru  da  la  condition  at 
do  la  nanat*  dn  raxamplairo  film4,  at  an 
conformiti  avac  laa  conditiona  du  <:ontrat  da 
fllmaga. 

Lia  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  mn 
paplar  aat  imprim4a  tont  fflmia  an  commenpant 
par  la  pramia?  plat  at  an  tiirminant  sott  par  la 
damiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  ampraints 
d'Impraaslon  ou  d'illustration.  solt  pa/  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  eas.  Tous  laa  autroa  sxampiairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  an  commandant  par  la 
ftrmmitrm  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
dlmpraaalon  ou  dlllustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  damiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microflcha 
fhall  contain  tha  symbol  ^^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  ▼  Imaanin^  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 


Un  daa  symbotaa  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
damMra  imago  da  chaqua  microflcha.  salon  la 
eaa:  la  symbols  -^  siqnifla  "A  SUIVRE".  la 
symbcda  ▼  signifia  "FiN". 


Mapa.  plataa.  charts,  ate.,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raducdon  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiroly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  comar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  fotlowiffg  diagrama  iHustrata  tho 
mathod: 


Laa  cartaa.  planchas.  tableaux,  ate. .  pauvant  Atra 
fllmte  A  daa  taux  da  rMuetlon  diffArants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  aat  trop  giand  pour  Atro 
raprodult  an  un  saul  cliehA.  il  sst  film*  *  partir 
do  I'angia  sup4riaur  gaueha.  da  gaueha  k  droita. 
at  do  haut  an  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  n4caaaalra.  Laa  diagrammaa  i  jiivants 
iNustront  la  m4tttoda. 


12  3 


12  3 

4  5  6 


THE    STORY 


THE    TELEGRAPH. 


s 


^ir~^cc6L. 


•iwT'narajD, 


''  'Vht\l  line  ii  fins  out  throaffh  all  t)i<  earth. 
Aim!  tiieir  wonU  to  llit  lud  a(  'Jia  wurld." 

Pialuu  III.  4 


THT7      QT^^^PY 


TELEGRAPH, 


anu 


I  Ml  STOP  V  OF  THi.  GREAT 


LAXTIC   CABLK; 


\i\i  .•(■■   T\\\\    IMl'KrTlOM,  PROGKES-*    A'^'f'    FrN«l. 


A\n 


vmtcK. 


«K 


'^Hf  '..tsftratrt. 


Mlif^ 


nUl^l^  ex   V^/\l\l^iL,lWi>l,  31 U  DKOADWAY. 
M   DCCC  LVIII. 


■^.■ 


#*■ 


0 


4f.- 


yu>t^  -h'  du/cc. 


J^EWY^IU;KDDn\     •;,. 


I 

1 


**  Their  tinr  ii  grna  oiii  ihraa^h  all  tkt  Nirtli, 
Aud  their  worU«  to  Uit  aud  of  Die  vurld." 

Ptaiuu  xli.  4 


THE    STORY 


OF 


6? 


0.1 


THE    TELEGRAPH, 


AND 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  GREAT 


ATLANTIC   CABLE; 


A  COMPLETE   KKOORD   OF   TIIK   INCKPTION,  PHOGKESS,  AND    FINAL 

Sl'CCKSS  OF  THAT  UNDKIITAKING.      A  OKNEKAL  H?STOaY  OF 

LAND  AND  OCEANIC  TELEGRAPHS.     DEriCKIPTloNS  OF 

TELEGRAPHIC  APPAKATKS.  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 

SKETCHES    OF  THE    PKINCIPAL   PERSONS 

CONNECTED  WITH  THE  GREAT  WORK. 


BY 

Charles     F.     Briggs, 

AND 

Augustus    Maverick. 

V&unTiantIs  snb  ISrautifuIIs  Slluttratttl. 


^. 


NEW  YORK: 

RUDD  &  CARLETON,  310  Broadway. 

M   DCCC  LVIII. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  CongreM,  In  the  year  1868,  by 

RUDD  Jc  CAELETON, 

m  the  Clerk'*  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


I   M 


K.   CRAIOHtAD, 

Printfr,  SiiTfuiyper,  «nd  EI«lro<7T)«r, 

Caitoii  euilHiito, 

81,  83,  n/id  S3  Cmtrt  Stmt 


"What  hath  God  Wrought  1" 

Firtt  Meteage  over  Mor»e^»  line— May  27, 18*4 


irn 


t),„  M'l^  0";^?""*^.^'*  ^^^  President  will  join  with  her  in  iervently  hopin- 
that  the  Llectrlc  Cable  which  now  connects  Great  Britai'  *,th  the  United  Stite^ 
wil  prove  an  additional  link  between  the  nations  whose  iriendship  is  fo.  ded  upon 
their  CO  amon  interest  and  reciprocal  esteem."  '^ 

FirH  JfMtaffe  (yttr  M«  AUanUc  Cable— Auffutt  14, 1868. 


Dedication. 


The  publishers  of  this  work  have  great  satisfaction  in  being 
permitted  to  dedicate  this  volume  to  the  man  whom  the  public 
recognise  as  the  real  author  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph — 

CYRUS  WEST  FIELD. 


New  Yobk,  Auf^^ut,  ISftS. 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  I. 
The  Science  of  Telegraphing — Ita  Inception  and  PrograsB — 
Gradual  Development  and  Perfection, 11 


CHAPTER  II. 

Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs,  . 


23 


CHAPTER  111. 
Origin  of  the  Atlantic   Telegraph — Organization  of  the  New 
York,  Newfoundland,  and   London  Telegraph  Company — 
wiih  Biographical  Sketches, 37 


CHAPTER   IV. 

The  Atlantic  Cable — Construction  and  Experimenta, 

CHAPTER    V. 
Tlie  First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857, .... 


CHAPTER   VI. 


Tiie  Expedition  of  1858, 


•  • 


.  56 
.  92 
.  116 
.  172 


CHAPTER  Vn. 
The  Third  and  Successful  .\t tempt,  . 

CHAPTER  vnr 

Working  the  Atlantic  Tel('grapli—Tli(«  Tcrniiui  of  the  Line,     .  1U5 


10 


Contents. 


APPENDIX. 

I.  Action  of  Congress  in   Kelation   to   the   International 

Submarine  Telegraph, 207 

II.  Lieut.  M.  F.  Maury  on  the  FeasibiUty  of  Oceanic  Tele- 
graphs,        221 

III.  The  Basin  of  the  Atlantic,  and  the  Telegraphic  Plateau,  229 

IV.  Early  Predictions  of  Professor  Morse,    ....  233 
V.   Use  of  the   Telegraph  in   Connxtion  with   Longitude 

Operations, 235 

VI.  Velocity  of  the  Gralvanic  Current,  .        .         •        .         .  239 

VII.  Table  of  Submarine  Cables, 243 

VIII.  The  Morse  Telegraph  Alphabet, 244 

IX.  Reception  of  the  Tidings  of  Success  in  the  United  States,  245 
X.  Mr.  Berdan   as   the  Inventor  of  the  New  Paying-Out 

Machine,     .........  251 


ILLUSTRATIONS, 

Portrait  of  Cyruy  W.  Field,  Esq. 

Map  of  the  Subma.ine  Telegraph  between  America  and  Europe, 

with  its  Various  Communications  on  the  two  Continents. 
Register  of  the  Morse  Telegraph. 
Signal  Key  of        do.         do. 
Re»(irding  Apparatus. 
Pain's  Telegraph. 
House's       do. 

Splice  of  the  Wirei  in  a  Land  Tel»  'raph. 
Cable  for  River  Crossing's. 
Submarine  Tclrgniph  Cable,  connecting   Dover  and  Calais —exact 

sizi'. 
Holyhead  Submarine  Cable 

Vertical  Section  of  the  Atlantic  Cable — cxart  size. 
Profile  View  of  the  Atlantic  Caole — exact  size. 
View  of  the  Atlantic  Cable  in  Sections. 
The  Spli.-e  of  tli    Cjiiile. 
V  erlua!  J^cction  ol  Shore  end  ol  Atlaiilii,:  Caliie — exact  size. 


THE  STOPY  OF  THE  TELEGRAPH. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  SCIENCE  OF  TELEGRAPHY — ITS  INCEPTION  AND 
PROGRESS — GRADUAL  DEVELOPMENT  A.-  ^  PERFEC- 
TION. 

THE  completion  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  the  unap- 
proachable triumph  which  has  just  been  achieved 
in  the  extension  of  the  submarine  electrical  Cable  between 
Europe  and  America,  has  been  the  cause  of  the  most  exult- 
ant burst  of  popular  enthusiasm  that  any  event  in  modern 
tiin(>s  has  over  clii'itcd.  So  universal  and  joyful  an  expres- 
sion of  public  syiiipatliy  betokens  a  pn^found  emotion 
that  will  not  iniincdiatcly  j)ass  away.  The  laying  of  the 
Telegraph  Cal)le  is  regarded,  and  most  justly,  as  the 
greatest  event  in  the  j>resent  century  ;  and  it  is  with  the 
desire  to  mcei  ihcj  popular  demand  for  an  authentic  and 


12 


General  Introduction. 


concise  history  of  this  great  event  that  the  authors  of  this 
volume  have  undertaken  tlieir  task,  and  not  with  the 
expectation  that  they  shall  be  able,  in  the  very  brief 
time  afforded  them,  to  present  the  world  with  a  volume 
entirely  worthy  of  the  importance  of  the  subject.  The 
history,  such  as  it  is,  will  at  least  have  the  merit  of  cor- 
rectness. 

The  completion  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  may  be 
regarded  as  the  crown  and  complement  of  all  past  inven- 
tions and  efforts  in  the  science  of  Telegraphy  ;  for  great 
and  startling  as  all  past  achievements  had  been,  so  long 
as  the  stormy  Atlantic  bade  defiance  to  human  ingenuity, 
and  kept  Europe  and  America  dis,^vered,  the  electric 
Telegraph  was  deprived  of  the  crowning  glory  which  its 
inventor  had  proj)hesied  it  should  one  day  possess.  But 
now  the  great  work  is  complete,  and  the  whole  earth 
will  be  belted  with  the  electric  current,  palpitating  with 
human  thoughts  and  emotions.  If  we  reflect  for  a 
moment  that  the  great  Atlantic  Cable  is  the  connecting 
link  between  Amerie;»'s  web-work  of  forty-five  thousand 
miles,  and  {Europe's  system  of  lifty-five  thousand  miles 
of  Tel'jgraph  wircr,  thus  forming  a  vavst  inter-connected 
system  of  a  Imndred  tlioi^^^and  miles  of  wires,  more  tlum 
sufficient  to  put  a  quadru]il(i  girdle  round  the  globe, 
some  conception  of  its  immense  significance  may  be 
gained. 

in  tills  history,  it  is  the  aim  of  the  authors  to  include 


General  Introd action. 


13 


within  the  scope  of  their  work  an  account  of  the  deve- 
lopment of  the  Telegraphic  system,  its  beginnings  and 
applications,  its  rapid  improvements  and  almost  miracu- 
lous extension  over  the  civilized  parts  of  the  earth. 

Of  all  the  marvellous  achievements  of  modern  science,  the 
Electric  Telegraph  is  transcendently  the  greatest  and  most 
serviceable  to  mankind.  It  is  a  perpetual  miracle,  which 
no  familiarity  can  render  commonplace.  This  ci.  xracter  it 
deserves  from  the  nature  of  the  agent  employed  and  the 
end  subserved.  I  or  what  is  the  end  to  be  accomplished, 
but  the  most  spiritual  ever  possible  ?  Not  the  modifica- 
tion or  transportation  of  matter,  but  the  transmission  of 
'hought.  To  effect  this  an  agent  is  employed  so  subtle 
in  its  nature,  that  it  may  more  properly  be  called  a 
spiritual  than  a  material  force.  The  mighty  power  of 
electricity,  sleeping  latent  in  all  forms  of  matter,  in  the 
earth,  the  air,  the  water;  permeating  every  part  and 
particle  of  the  universe,  carrying  creation  in  its  arms,  it 
is  yet  invisible  and  too  subtle  to  be  analysed.  Of  the 
natural  cifecta  of  electricity,  the  most  palpable  examples 
occur  in  atmospheric  manifestations;  but  its  artificial 
generation  and  application  are  the  mightiest  sciontitlc 
triiunjilis  of  our  epoch.  It  was  but  little  more  than  a 
hundred  years  ago  that  Franklin's  immature  experi- 
ments demonstrated  the  absolute  identity  of  liglitning 
atid  t'lectricity.  Since  then  various  meol-.anical  contri- 
vances have  been  devised  for  liberating  this  subtle  hut 


,fi 


H 


General  Introduction. 


potent  power  from  its  dark  windings  in  the  prison-house 
of  material  forms ;  the  result  of  which  is,  that  the  electric 
fluid  may  be  produced  and  employed  in  any  desired 
quantity  and  with  any  required  intensity.  Thus  the 
same  terrific  agent  which  rushes  with  blinding  and 
crushing  force  in  the  lightning,  has  been  brought  under 
the  perfect  control  of  man,  and  is  employed  at  his  will 
as  an  agent  of  his  necessities.  With  dissolving  energy 
it  effects  the  most  subtle  chemical  analyses,  it  converts 
the  sunbeam  into  the  limner's  pencil,  employs  its  titanic 
force  in  blasting  rocks,  dissolves  gold  and  silver,  and 
employs  them  in  the  gilding  and  plating  of  other  metals ; 
it  turns  policeman,  sounding  its  whistle  and  alarm-bell; 
and  lastly,  applies  its  marvellous  energy  to  the  trans- 
mission of  thought  from  continent  to  continent  with 
such  rapidity  as  to  forestall  the  flight  of  Time,  and  inaugu- 
rate new  realizations  of  human  powers  and  possibilities. 

The  efficacy  of  the  Electric  Telegraph  depends  on  the 
power  to  produce  at  will  the  three  following  eft'ects  : — 

1st.  To  develope  the  electric  fluid  in  any  desired 
quantity. 

2nd.  To  t/ansmit  it  to  any  required  dl  tance  without 
any  injurious  diminution  of  its  force. 

3rd.  To  cause  it  upon  its  arrival  at  any  required  point 
to  produce  some  sensible  eftects  which  may  serve  the 
purpose  of  wrtten  or  printed  characttrii.* 

*  Lnrdner     Tho  Kleotrio  Tologrrnph. 


General  Introduction. 


15 


Every  practical  application  must  liave  its  ground  and 

[enesis  in  some  scientific  conception ;  it  must  pre-exist  in 

16  mind  as  law,  before  it  can  assume  substantive  shape 

the  world  of  concrete  realities.  Thus  practical  navi- 
lation  is  the  result  of  mathematical  discoveries  and  ob- 
3rvations,  that  run  back  to  the  speculative  labors  of  the 
rreek  geometers ;  and  our  ships  now  navigate  the  track- 
bss  ocean  with  safety,  guided  by  a  knowledge  of  the 
[rinciples  of  conic  sections  disco\ered  by  Apollonius 
id  Aristarchus.     A  praijtical  embodiment  is  real  and 

sting,  just  in  proportion  to  its  truthful  relation  to  laws 
[eneralized  from  the  observation  of  phenomena  in  nature, 
id  any  discovery  is  explained,  when  the  ideal  steps  on 
^hich  it  depends,  are  set  forth  in  systematic  order. 

It  was  not  until  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
iry,  that  the  science  of  electrology  began  to  receive 
)me  of  those  great  generalizations  which  give  it  a 
itional  character,  and  which,  in  fact,  constitute  it  a 
jience.     The  f  rst  serviceable  steps  were  the  distinction 

the  two  electricities,  Muschenbroek's  experiments 
rith  the  Leyden  Jar,  and  Franklin's  great  meteorolo- 
[icid  discovery,  which  was  the  first  manifestation  of  the 
ifluence  of  electricity  in  the  general  system  of  nature, 
[he-je  were  followed  up  by  the  vfvst  labors  of  Coulomb  and 
lMpere,  bringing  electrical  phenomena  under  the  juris- 
iction  of  mathematics.  In  the  year  1820,  Oersted  pub- 
Hshed  to  the  world  his  beautiful  and  comprehensive  dis- 


i6 


General  Introduction. 


covery,  connecting  the  laws  of  Electricity  and  Magnet 
isra.  Ten  years  afterwards,  Arago  and  Faraday  cam^ 
with  their  brilliant  intuitions,  bringing  those  grand 
gener-^  .xzations  which  have  been  the  foundation  of 
the  magnificent  applications  of  the  science  which  have 
since  bf.en  made. 

Such  is  a  brief  and  rapid  view  of  the  development  ofl 
the  science  of  Electrology.     How  practical  applicatioi 
have  kept  pace  with  abstract  conceptions,  and  the  energyj 
and  enterprise  of  intelligent  men  have  been  all  the  while 
fully  abreast  with  the  discoveries  of  science,  remains  to 
be  proved. 

It  would  seem  to  be  necessaiy  to  the  perfection  ofl 
every  great  discovery,  that  it  should  pass  through  a  seriesl 
of  rudimentary  and  embryonic  stages  before  it  can  gain  al 
serviceable  and  rational  form.     Through  such  stages  didl 
the  applications  of  steam  pass,  as  witness  the  numerousi 
experiments  for  centuries  previous  to  its  receiving  thel 
foundation  in  science,  from  which  alone  we  derive  alll 
our  power  over  this  force.      Telegraphy,  too,  has  had  tol 
pass  through  analogous  processes  of  development.     Tol 
the  present  generation,  who  have  seen  this  greatest  of 
modern  arts  grow  up  under  their  own  eyes  within  the 
past  ten  or  twelve  years,  it  can  hardly  seem  possible  that! 
they  have  been  present  at  the  very  birth  and  adopiion  ofl 
this  great  idea.      But,  notwithstanding  that  the  art  is  soj^j^jy  ^ 
new,  ana  has  been  so  suddenly  brought  to  j)erfection,  theft  sf)n 


General  Introduction. 


17 


kdea  is  oM,  and,  like  other  great  ideas,  lias  had  to  strug- 
gle through  long  ages  for  its  perfect  development.    There 
jwere  many  abortive  experiments  through  the  century- 
land  a  half  preceding  the  first  practical  success.     Fruit- 
less  though  the  greater  part  of  these  experiments  were, 
^•et  they  were  all  necessary  oi  inevitable  to  the  final  tri- 
nph.     And  as  this  History  will  be  chiefly  occupied 
idth  the  triumphs  of  the  telegraphic  art  during  the  past 
twelve  years,  under  the  guidance  of  the  great  scientific 
laws  previously  evolved,  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  a 
glance  at  the  preliminary  endeavors  towards  the  consum- 
(lation  of  the  great  idea;  though  from  the  imperfect 
ievelopment  of  the  science  of  Electrology,  large  and  per- 
lanent  results  were  not  possible. 


t-'i 


The  History  of  Telegraphy  may  properly  be  divided 

ito  three  periods : 

1st.  From  the  development  of  electricity  by  jfriction 

to  the  discovery  of  Galvanism,  or  the   production  of 

illectricity  by  the  chemical  union  of  acids  upon  metals, 

fn  1790  by  Galvani,  and  by  Volta  in  1800. 

2d.  From  the  discovery  of  the  Galvanic  or  Volt"'*'; 
battery  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  includ- 
ing the  discoverv  of  E^ectro-Mncmetisrr!  bv  Of^rsfpH  in 
1820,  and  Ampere's  first  application  of  the  principle* 


i8 


General  Introduction. 


J  i 


he  evolved,  up  to  183?,  when  Professor  Henry  disco- 
vered  the  method  of  constructing  improved  magnets  inl 
connexion  with  properly  arranged  batteries,  so  as  to  pro- 
duce mechanical  effects  at  a  distance. 

3d.  The  Era  of  application,  from  1837,  when  Profes-j 
sor  Morse  in  America,  and  Cook  and  Wheatstone  inl 
England,  respectively  patented  their  telegraphic  inven-[ 
tions,  and  inaugurated  the  triumphant  and  almost  mira- 
culous successes  which  the  past  twelve  years  have  wit- 
nessed. 

In  the  year  1726  John  Wood,  of  England,  discovered! 
that  electricity  could  be  conveyed  a  long  distance  bj 
conducting  wires,  and  in  1747  one  of  the  earliest  appli- 
cations of  the  discovery  was  made  by  Doctor  Watson, 
who  extended  his  experiments  over  a  space  of  four  miles, 
comprising  a  circuit  of  two  miles  of  wire  and  an  equal 
distance  of  ground. 

In  1784*  M.  Lomond,  of  France,  communicated  tele-l 
graphic  signals  to  a  neighboring  room  by  means  of  a 
pith-ball  electronometer,  acted  up-m  by  electricity,  an 
account  of  which  is  narrated  in  "  Young's  Travels  inl 
F.-ance."     ^nd.  according  to  the  Comptes  Bmdus,  Stan(A 
lo38,  M.  Belancourt  in   1798  established  a  telegraph! 
between    Madrid    and  Aranjuez,   twenty-six    miles  in 
length,   through  which    a  current    of    electricity  was 
forced  and  gave  signals  for  letters. 

*  Phil.  Transactions,  Vol.  XIV. 


General  Introduction. 


19 


The  first  Galvanic  Telegraph  of  which  we  have  any 
iount  was  constructed  by  Soemering,  of  Munich:  it 
lerated  by  the  decomposition  of  water,  and  caused  a 
ill  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  wire  to  ring.     This  was 
e  first  decomposing  or  chemical  telegraph,  and  it  can 
en  now  be  operated,  according  to  "  Jones's  Book  of 
le  Telegruph,"  though  less  rapidly  than  Bain's. 
The  year  1820  was  signalized  by  the  dircovery  of 
lectro-magnetism  by  Professor  Oersted,  of  Copenhagen, 
most  important  discovery  was  at  once  seized  upon  by 
Ampere,  and  embodied  in  the  fii-st  Electro-Magnetic 
legraph.      This,  however,   proved  more  an  experi- 
lental  than  a  practical  advance  in  the  science.* 
The  next  advance  was  made  by  Mr.  Sturgeon,  of 
gland,  who  constructed  the  first  electro-magnet  by 
•lling  a  piece  of  copper  wire  around  an  iron  of  a  liorse- 
loe  form.     He  found  that  when  the  electric  fluid  passed 
>le- Jrough  the  coil  the  inclosed  iron  became  a  magnet,  and 
again  demagnetized  in  breaking  the  current.    Addi- 
an»)nal  advances  were  made  in  1831,  by  Professor  Henry, 
m^o  discovered  a  method  to  which  we  have  already 
■JceMuded,  of  forming  magnets  of  great  intensity,  making 
phBacticable  the  production  of  powerful  effects  at  a  great 
infttaDce.     This  was  indispensable  to  the  creation   of 
ictro-magnetic  telegraphing  for  great   distances,   and 


•  Annales  de  Chemie  et  d©  Physique,  1820. 


20 


General  Introduction. 


was,  of  course,  a  sine  qud  ,ion  to  the  possibility  of  tha 
crowning  achievement  of  science,  the  Submarine  Tek 
graph.* 

In  the  year  1823,  Gauss  and  Weber  first  constructe 
the  simplified  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph.   It  was  Gai 
who  first  employed  the  incitement  of  induction,  and  whfj 
demonstrated  that  the  appropriate  combination    of 
limited  number  of  signs  is  all  that  is  required  for  i\\ 
transmission  of  messages.     Weber  discovered    that 
copper  wire,  7,400  feet  long,  which  he  carried  over  thJ 
houses  and  church  steeples  of  Gottingen,  from  the  Obseij 
vatory  to  the  Cabinet  of  Natural  Philosophy,  require 
no  special  insulation.     This  was  a  most  important  discJ 
very  in  the  construction  of  telegraphic  lines,  and  hJ 
been  of  immense  service  in  the  art  of  Telegraphy. 

Such  were  some  of  the  preparatory  steps   througij 
which  the  telegraphic  art  passed  previous  to  the  innn^ 
ration  of  the  great  era  commencing  in  1837.     Thus  yi{ 
see  that  the  mighty  achievements  of  the  }>;ust  twelve  yean 
were  the  results  of  the  conspiring  labors  and  invostiga] 
tions  of  many  generations  of  pacient  workers,  who  wea 
denied  the  gratification  of  witnessing  the  final  glories 
their  discoveries. 

The  world  has  now  more  tlian  a  hundred  thousaiii 
miles  of  Electric  Telegraph.     To  say  that  this  nchiovfj 


TYinnt    morl/^c 


oro      1  r»      C/^/»1  rA      1 1  K^       ia      n  /-x*      i  t\ 


•  SUi;inan>  .Tiur.  Vol.  XIX. 


General  Introduction. 


21 


iroper  characterization.  It  marks  an  area  in  the  unfold- 
ng  of  the  human  mind.     The  Telegraph  has  more  than 

mechanical  meaning;  it  has  an  ideal,  a  rehgious,  and  a 
(respective  signifl^ance,  far-reaching  and  incalculable  in 
ts  influences. 

The  inspired  author  of  the  Book  of  Job  exclaims 
In  an  interrogatory,  mei^t  to  bear  the  burden  of  the 
mpossible,  "  Canst  thou  send  lightnings  that  they  may 
;o,  and  say  unto  Thee,  here  we  are  ?  "  But  this  is  pre- 
isely  what  science  has  done  in  the  Electric  Telegraph. 
n  all  our  cities  there  are  buildings  in  the  cellars  of  which 
iiachinery  exists  for  the  fabrication  of  lightning,  which 

supplied  to  order,  at  a  very  moderate  price,  in  any 
uantity  required,  and  of  any  desired  force,  which  is 
ioiulucted  for  thousands  of  miles  across  rivers,  through 
forests,  over  mountains,  and  down  through  the  dark 
epths  of  the  ocean.  And  this  lightning  is  made  the 
chicle  of  thought,  to  carry  messages  to  the  extreme  ends 
•f  the  earth,  between  two  boats  of  the  pendulum  of  a  clock. 

le  fabled  horses  of  v\rabian  tales,  and  the  famous  legend 
f  Ic  Beau  Peeopin's  midnight  rido  round  thu  world,  are 
;uno  in  the  comparison  of  the  realities  of  Telegraphy. 

It  lias  been  the  result  of  the  great  discoveries  of  the 
ast  century,  lo  efToct  a  n-volution  in  political  and  wn-ial 
fc,  by  ostablisliing  a  inon'  intimate  connexion  between 


22 


General  Introduction. 


nation  and  death.  National  health  cuu  only  bt  main- 
tained by  the  free  an-^.  unobstructed  interchange  of  each 
with  all.  How  potent  a  power,  then,  is  the  telegraphic 
destined  to  become  in  the  civilization  of  the  world  I 
This  binds  together  by  a  vital  cord  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  It  is  impossible  that  old  prejudices  and  hostilities 
should  longer  exist,  while  such  an  instrument  has  been 
created  for  an  exchange  of  thought  between  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth. 

Such  is  the  vista  which  this  new  triumph  of  the  might 
of  human  intelligence  opens  to  us.  Every  one  must 
feel  stronger  and  freer  at  the  accession  of  such  an  in- 
crease of  powc/.  to  the  human  family,  as  has  been  (con- 
ferred upon  it  by  the  success  of  the  Ocean  Telegraph.  It] 
shows  that  nothing  is  impossible  to  man,  while  he  keeps! 
within  the  sublimely  impel  ious  orbit  of  Nature's  laws. 


"  The  future  liides  in  it 
GladnesT  and  sorrow : 
We  press  still  thorow, 
Naught  that  abides  in  it 
Daunting  us,  Onward." 


CHAPTER  II. 


LAND  AND  OCEANIC  TELEGRAPHS. 

IHE  entire  history  of   the   Magnetic   Telegraph  is 

compressible  within  very  narrow  limits.     The  first 

■elegraphic  line  in  the  United  States  was  erected  only 

jourteen  years  ago.     But  twenty-one  years  have  passed 

lince  ihe  first  English  patent  for  a  Telegraph  was  issued. 

'  period  of  thirty-nine  years  has  elapsed  since  the  dia- 
ivery  and  first  application  of  electro-magnetism.  A 
)aoe  of  a  trifle  ovtT  a  third  of  a  century,  therefore, 

inibraces  the  era  of  Telograpliic;  operations.    The  accom- 

lishment  of  the  last  great  feat  of  underlaying  the  ocean 

iL'^'osts  the  propriety  of  a  retrospect  of  early  attempts. 

The  disc-overy  of  electro-magnetism  is  due  to  Professor 

KHSTKI),    of   Coponliagen,    who   announced    the    new 

principle   in    1819.     ^rhe   discovery  was  seize<l   by  M. 

'mpkre,   the   emi.irnt    ^r.  nch    pliysicist,  who    in    the 

.'llOWMlir    V(>'tv      ini-..ii«.>   I   .>...  .1, .,.«.., . .•       .      i t 

I- '■    "     :::::::  V  I : : ;:  ;;.r;  liri  K"  Ti  iOjL^i.ipii,  III 
Inch  lie  used  as  many  wires  as  there  w.tc  letters,  and 


24  Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

broke  and  restored  the  circuit  by  keys,  similar  to  thosJ 
used  in  the  House  patent.  This  attempt  was  purelj 
experimentid.  It  was  never  practically  tested.  ^ 
current  was  obtained  of  sufficient  force  t  verse  m 

considerable  distance : — the  idea  of  using  the  earth  ^ 
complete  the  circuit;    the  possibiUty  of  employing 
single   wire ;    any  method  of  recording  the  magnet 
current,  in  other  words,  of  not  only  making  it  speak,  bJ 
of  reporting  and  preserving  its  utterances,  all  these  we.j 
unknown  elements,  which  it  was  left  for  the  prestd 
generation  to  discover.     The  first  advance  was  made  ij 
ProfesstHi-  Joseph  Henry,  then  of  Princeton  Colleg 
now  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  who,  by  the  coJ 
struction  and  novel  combination  of  magnets,  in  the  ye 
1831,  demonstrated  the  possibility  of  transmitting 
current  over  long  distances ;  a  revelation  indispensable  j 
the  construction  of  a  submarine   telegraph.      In  I80I 
Weber,  a  German  experimenter,  found  that  a  copd 
wire  which  he  carried  over  sundry  houses  and  churj 
steeples  of  Gottingcn,  recpiired  no  especial  insulation 
fact  of  great  practical  value  to  telegraphing  ujion  laij 
The  year  1837  furnished  several  additions  to  previoj 
knowledge ;  and,  in  fact,  may  be  regarded  as  the  e})" 
vi  the  inland  telegraphic  system.     In  July  of  tliat  yt 
SlElNllElL    put  in    use    a    regi.^'t<TMig    electro-magn' 
•urrauh  bftween    Munich  and    lio^euhauseii,  whcrj 
clock-work  w:w  employed   to    piu^s   a   ribbon  of  ]>ai 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs.  2C 

through  the  mDx;hine  under  a  deflected  needle,  which 
impressed  updn  it  dots  and  marks,  accepted  as  represen- 
tations of  the  several  lettCiS  of  the  alphabet.  A  few 
days  before  the  Steinheil  apparatus  was  set  to  work, 
Messrs.  Cooke  and  Wiieatstone  obtained  their  English 
patent  for  a  telegraph  using  a  deflective  point,  the  patent 
bearing  date,  June  12, 1837.  Their  specific  improvement 
was  the  use  of  transmitting  or  relay  magnets. 

In  the  year  1835,  Mr.  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  of  New 
York,  constructed  a  rude  apparatus  for  telegraphic  expe- 
riments in  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York. 
Seventeen  hundred  feet  of  wire  were  stretched  around 
the  walls  of  a  small   apartment,  and  connected  with  a 
recording  machine  of  rougli  construction.     This  experi- 
ment proved  the  practicability  of  the  Telegraph.  The  first 
word  indicated  through  the  action  of  the  electric  current 
was  "  Eureka."     Mr.  Mowsk  conducted  further  experi- 
ments   until    the  year  1837,   and   in   October  of  that 
year  filed  his  caveat  for  tli-  "American  Electro- Mag- 
netic Telegraph,"  in  which  an  incomplete  outline  of  his 
actual  system  was  presented.       ^e  represented  th.at  his 
])ian  had  been  devised  in  the  year  1832,  but  waa  then 
first  rcluced  to  the  t(\st  of  experiment.    Dr.  Cil  .{LES  T. 
Jackson,    of  Boston,    hna   always   contended    that   th(^ 
iloRSE  invention  was  due  to  his  suggestion,  made  to  the 

Pr(if(><j>anr   rlnritio-  •>  Tr^,.^^.,    r.. ir 


i  1 


ilitrii 


States,  on  board  tlu>  ship  Sh//>/^  in  the  Summer  (   '  183'_*. 


2 


26  Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

m 

There  is  no  proof,  however,  to  contradict  the  averments 
of  both  gentlemen,  that  they  had  heard  nothing  of  the 
Steinheil  and  Wheatstone  inventions.     Morse  obtained 
his  patent  in  France,  in  1838,  and  in  1840  a  patent  in 
the  United  States.    In  1846,  a  re-issue  of  the  latter  patent 
was  obtained,  in  which  the  claim  to  the  electric  or  mag- 
netic current  was  abandoned,  but  he  claimed  instead  the 
use  of  electro-magnetism  as  a  motor.     The  same  year  he 
patented  a  right  to  the  invention  of  a  local  circuit.    Sub- 
scquc:  tly,  Mr.  Alexander  Bain  patented,  in  England, 
his  claim  for  an  improved  Electro-Chemical  Telegraph, 
where  the  message  was  recorded  by  electricity  upon 
paper  chemically  prepared;    and  in  1848,  entered  his 
claim  for  an  American  patent,  which  \.  as  confirmed  in 
1849.    In  1848-9,  Mr.  Royal  E.  House,  of  New  York, 
obtained  an  American  patent  for  a  Telegraph,  in  which 
the  message  was  recorded  by  types,  and  the  circuit  broken 
and  resumed  by  means  of  keys  similar  to  those  of  the 
piano-forte,  answering  to  the  letters  of  the  alphabet. 

The  first  electro-magnetic  line  in  the  United  States 
was  tliat  between  Baltimore  and  W.ushington,  the  dis- 
tance forty  miles,  completed  in  1844.  Congress  contribu- 
ted $80,000  t(^wards  its  construction.  The  first  message 
over  this  line  was  sent  by  Miss  Anne  Ellsworth,  of 
Connecticut,  on  f1i(?  27tli  Afny,  1844,  and  the  words 
transmitted  were  these  four:  "  Whathalh  God  tvroughtr 
The  operation  of  this  initird  ('i.tcrptisc  promising  sue- 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs.  27 

cess,  a  company  was  formed,  with  Mr.  Amos  Kendall 
aa  President,  for  the  continuation  of  the  line;  and  in 
1845  it  was  extended  between  New  York  and  Wilming- 
ton, Del.,  leaving  a  gap  between  the  latter  point  and 
Baltimore,  which  was  filled  up  early  in  1846.     From  this 
inception,  the  work  has  advanced  until  tha  present  day, 
when  there  are  mooe  than  thiicy-five  thousand  miles  of 
telegraph  lines  in  the  United  States,  connecting  the  coast 
of  Newfoundland  with  the  shores  of  Texas,  and  the 
great  plains  of  the  West,  and  the  great  lakes  of  the 
North  with  the  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.     There 
are  more  than  five  thousand  miles  in  the  British  Pro- 
vinces ;  in  England  there  are  over  ten  thousand  miles ; 
and  in  the  world  a  total  length  exceeding  one  hundred 
thousand  miles. 

The  lines  of  Telegraph  now  in  operation  in  the  United 
States,  are  (1)  Morse's;  (2)  Train's;  (3)  House's;  (4) 
Hughes'.  The  latter  is  a  new  invention,  possessing  won- 
derful sensitiveness,  and  combining  the  advantages  of 
Morse's  and  House's.  A  general  description  of  these 
diiferent  systems  may  be  usefully  introduced  in  thLs  con- 
nexion. 


28 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 


The  engraving  exhibits  the  Eegister  of  the  Morse 
Telegraph,  as  used  in  the  telegraph  otHces : 


REGISTER    OF   Till:    N.OIIKF    TKI  KGIiAPU. 


In  this  illustration,  the  magnet,  the  armature,  the 
rollers,  and  the  clock  work,  are  shown.  Thn  m.ip]iin«  m 
Bet  in  operation  by  a  Icvor-kc}-,  placod  at  the  other  end 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs.  29 

of  the  telegraphic  route,  which,  beiDg  raised  or  lowered 
by  the  pressure  of  a  finger,  breaks  or  closes  the  circuit. 
A  signal-key  is  also  used,  ^:rA  the  apparatus  for  recording 
messages  is  simple  and  effective.  The  subjoined  illustra- 
tions convey  an  idea  of  these  parts  of  the  machine : 


SIONAL-KST   OF  MORSk's   INSTHIMKNT. 


RICCKDING    APPARATUS. 


The  writing  by  Morse's  instrument  is  a  series  of  dots 
:iih1  (lashes,  a  full  descPMtion  of  which  may  be  found  in 
the  Appendix. 


30  Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

Bain's  Telegraph  is  a  modiiication  of  Morse's.    Its 
form  is  shown  in  the  following  cut  : 


BA.Ji  3    TELEGKAPH. 


In  this  Telegraph,  chemically  prepared  paper  is  marked 
Lj  the  passage  of  the  current,  and  the  message  is  recorded 
upon  the  disc. 

House's  Telegraph  is  a  printing  instrument.  Its  gene- 
ral character  is  shown  in  the  subjoined  engraving. 
The  operator  with  this  instrument  manipulate."  a  let- 
tered key-board,  arranged  like  a  piano-forte;  the  circuit 
being  closed  by  pressing  down  the  keys ;  a  type- wheel 
revolving  at  the  extremity  of  the  line,  records  the  mes- 
sage in  printed  Roman  letters. 

Hughes'  Telegraph  resembles  House's,  and,  like  thfit 
prints  its  messages.    Th  -  principal  advantage  claimed  for 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 


3' 


tliia  instrument,  is  its  peculiar  delicacy ;  a  feebler  current 
of  electricity  sufficircr  to  set  it  in  motion.  In  principle,  it 
is  a  combination  of  the  Morse  and  House  Telegraphs. 


HOUSES  TELEGRAPH. 


The  method  of  erectin.r  a  line  of  Land  Telegraph  is  so 
familiar,  that  any  description  is  superfluous.  The  opera- 
tion of  splicing  the  wires,  at  points  of  junction,  is  not, 
however,  so  generally  known.  It  is  exhibited  in  the 
accompanying  engraving. 

Submarine  Telegraphs  have  a  very  rect  at  history. 

One  of  the  earliest  difficulties  to  be  overc<  me  in  terres- 
trial telegraphing,  was  the  extension  and  -  .feet  insulation 


oft] 


IP  wiro  ovf^r  °.trp.r'.TT>.s  is^r'   al^or 


1  t  C«i/S_/A  . 


XXi/  llioi/. 


the  transit  was  effected  by  using  bridges,  where  bridges 


32  Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

existed ;  and  in  their  absence,  of  suspending  the  wires 
over  the  water,  from  carefully-selected  Prominences  on 
either  bank.     In  time,  the  non-conducting  quality  of 


S 


8PUCE  OF  THI   WIBSS    IN  A  LAND  TKLIGaAPH. 

water  suggested  the  idea  of  submerging  the  line,  and 
permitting  it  to  sink  to  the  bed  of  the  stream;  and  with 
the  application  of  india  rucber  or  gutta  percha,  as  a  coat- 
ing to^  prevent  oxidation,    ihe  plan  was  successfully     | 
leaorted  to.  '       — 


I 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs.  m 

The  Cable  generally  used  for  river  crossings  has  the 
following  size  and  shape : — 


OABLB   FOR   EITBR   CUOSSINGS. 

The  employment  of  Submarine  Cables  for  telegraphic 
communications  was  first  successfully  accomplished  seven 
years  ago.  In  October,  1851,  a  deep-sea  Cable  w^^  laid 
in  the  English  Channel,  between  Dover  and  Calais  '  Is 
Cable  had  four   p.onHnctine'  wires    inenlnfpri    hir    miHo 

percha,  and  afterwards  enveloped  by  tarred  rope-yarn 

2* 


34  ^-and  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

and  galvanized  iron  wires.     Its  general  plan  of  construc- 
tion is  indicated  in  the  engraving : 


Bu»«AHir<k    l&LtUHAni    CABI.K.    (XNNWTINO    WVUI    ANO   OAUOi, 


Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 


35 


This  Cable  was  manufactured  in  the  space  of  three 
weeks.  It  weighed  seven  tons  to  the  mile,  and  was 
twenty-four  miles  in  length.  It  will  be  observed  that 
the  principle  differs  essentially  from  that  of  the 
Atlantic  Cable;  four  conducting  wires  being 
used  instead  of  seven,  and  the  aggregate  weight 
being  six  times  greater.  Owing,  however,  to 
the  chafing  of  the  wire  upon  the  rocks  near  the 
French  coast,  this  Cable  severed  at  th^  end  of 
a  month,  and  a  new  and  stronger  Cable  had 
to  be  laid.  This  is  now  in  perfect  working 
order. 

A  similar  Cable  was  soon  after  made  and 
laid  down  by  E.  S.  Newall  &  Co.,  between 
Ilolyhead  and  T)ublin,  which  worked  perfectly 
for  several  days;  after  which  its  insulation 
became  imperfect.  Its  size  and  form  are  exhi- 
bited in  the  accompanying  cut. 

-A  Cable  entirely  of  hcnip,  without  any 
galvanized  wire  covering,  was  laid  down  be- 
tween Portjiatrick  and  Donaghadf"'e  by  the 
same  firm,  for  tiie  Magneto-Electric  Telegraph 
Company.     This  has  entirely  failed. 

Including  the  Atlantic  Cable,  the  aggregate 
length  of  the  Submarine  Tehgraph  lines  of 


IIOI.THKAII 

SCHHARINK 

CARLE. 


the  world,  is  now  little  short  of  three  thousand  miles.* 


•Appendix — "  Table  of  Submarine  Telegrapha." 


3^  Land  and  Oceanic  Telegraphs. 

The  immediate  result  of  the  first  apparently  successful 
attempt  with  the  Cable  across  the  Straits  of  Dover,  was 
the  suggestion  of  various  projects  of  a  similar  character. 
The  plan  of  a  trans- Atlantic  Cr,ble  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  among  these.     The  idea  wa^  too  stupendous,  per- 
haps, and  seemingly  impracticable  to  be  conceived ;  or  if 
conceived,  to  be  entertained  otherwise  than  as  a  desirable 
impossibility.     In  1851,  however,  a  speculator  was  found 
boldenough  to  propound  the  enterprise,  using  the  columns 
of  the  London  Aihenceum  for  the  purpose.     He  proposed 
to  use  a  single  stout  wire,  enveloped,  firstly,  in  a  gutta- 
percha coat,  and  secondly  in  hemp,  saturated  with  some 
imperishable  matter,  and  to  extend  it  directly  from  the 
coast  of  Ireland  to  Newfoundland.     The  suggestion  fell 
8till-bom,-only,  however,  to  be  revived  in  a  year  or  two 
afterwards,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Company  of  whose 
history  it  is  now  time  to  treat. 


CHAPTER   III. 


OUICIN  OK  THE  ATLANTIC  TELEGRAPH-ORGANIZATION 
OF  THE  NEW  YORK,  .EWFOUNDL.U^D,  AND  LONDON 
TELEGRAPH  rOMPANY. 

riONFUCTING  claims  are  always  set  up  for  the 
lionor3just;v  due  to  the  originator  of     sful  cnter- 
pns..s.    Crude  iucas,  when  first  broached,  rarely  receive 
tl.e  degree  of  attention  to  which  they  are  often  really 
entitled,  and  it  is  not  unft^quently  the  ease  that  the 
aetua    projector  of  a  plan  of  vast  magnitude  fin.^s  an 
.ncredulous  audience  to  receive  his  demonstrations.     In 
the  h>st<,ry  of  the  inception  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph 
't  .s  probable  that  many  new  elements  will  enter     The 
ero,ht  of  the  original  inv,.nti„„  of  Submarine  telegraph- 
jns  W.11   undoub...dly  be  elaimed  by  various   partL. 
"nd  tins  wonderful  work  proved  a  total  failure,  aspiri.. 
mventors  would  perhaps  have  l«en  less  anxious  to  clain'^ 
'J-^  r.ATnity.     Having  become  a  fi«,t  in  the  hisK.rv  „f 
""=  won,,.  It  ,„  not  a  matter  of  surprise  to  fln,l  a  host  of 


3^     Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

rival  claimants  springing  up ;  each  pressing  his  demand 
for  priority,  and  each  unwilling  to  yield  to  the  preten- 
Bions  of  others.     We  do  not  propose  to  enter  into  any 
elaborate  discussion  of  this  knotty  question.     The  great 
ftict  remains  unaltered,  that  a  Submarine  Oceanic  Tele- 
graph is  not  only  possible,  but  actual.     It  is  idle  to 
attempt  to   compress  within   the  compass  of  a  single 
chapter  any  complete  record  of  the  conflicting  claims 
which  are  put  forward  in  connexion  with  the  story  of 
this  undertiiking ;  indeed,  a  work  much  larger  than  the 
present  one  would  scarcely  suffice  for  the  presentation 
of  the  plans  for  which  their  authors  require  the  endorse- 
ment of  the  public.     We,  therefore,  content  ourselves 
with  a  general  summary  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  which 
seem,  after  careful  comparison  of  data,  and  conauentious 
investigation    .f  the  merits  of  opposing  claims,  to  be 
t^tiiblished  beyond  the  reach  of  cavil. 

The  question  of  the  priority  of  discovery  of  the 
principle  of  the  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraphy  as  lying 
between  Prof  Morse,  Prof  Henry,  and  Dr.  Jackson, 
does  not  properly  enter  into  this  department  of  the 
history  of  Telegraphing.  The  merits  of  the  claims  set 
up  for  tht^se  parties  are  treated  elsewhere.  For  the 
l)re8ent.  we  have  to  deal  solely  with  the  record  of  the 
origin  of  Submarine  Telegraphs ;  and  in  order  to  arrive 
at  a  satisf  ictory  conclusion  in  regard  to  this  particular 
branch  of  tlio  subject,  it  is  oisential  to  refer  briefly  U) 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.     39 

events  which  occurred  at  interval.-  from  the  years  1847 
to  1856,  a  period  covering  some  nine  years.     While  dis- 
claiming  any  intention  to  slight  the  claims  of  ingenious 
iuventon-^,  whose  skill  and  industry  will  insure  them  the 
grateful  remembrance  of  posterity,  even  if  their  names 
be  disconnected  from  the  historical  record  of  the  Atlantic 
Telegraph,  we  are  led  to  the  belief  that  tlie  credit  of  the 
inception,  progress,  and  successful   completion  of  that 
great  undertaking,  which  forms  the  existing  Unk  between 
Europe  and  America,  is  due  to  the  foresight,  prudence 
and  unwearying  energy  of  three  or  four  gentlemen,  all 
of  whom  have  contributed  to  the  enterprise  the  results 
of  long  -^xperience  and  the  fruits  of  enlarged  scientific 
knowledge. 

One  fact  should  be  stated  at  the  outset.     It  is  undoubt- 
odiy  true  that  the  success  of  Submarine  Telegraphing 
dri)ends  upon  a  single  point.     That  point,  once  gained, 
nusures  other  conditions,   necessarily  consequent  U]>on 
It.    In  other  words,  no  submarine  cable  for  telegraphic 
purposes  can  be  perfect  until  its  insulation  is  rendered 
positive.      But  one  material  is  known  to  possess  this 
insulating  property.      But  for  the  discovery   of  gutta 
percba,  the  Atlantic  Telegraph   would  not  hav^e  been 
worked  ;  the  ciectric  current  would  have  been  di^ssiput^-d 
".the  depths  of  the  sea;    the  triumph  of  mechanical 
^^  1  and  scientific  goniua  over  wliic!,  two  tuitions  ha== - 
become   ecstatic,   could   not  have    been   accomp^isheil 


40      Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

Prior  experiments,  on  shorter  lengths  of  submarine 
cables,  demonstrated  the  useful  properties  of  this  new 
material.  From  these  early  attempts  sprang  the  project 
for  underiaying  the  ocean.  Diligent  industry,  the 
application  of  fertile  resources,  and  the  hearty  co-opera- 
tion of  two  countries  in  the  work,  have  made  the  Atlantic 
Telegraph  the  fitting  climax  to  a  long  series  of  careful 
investigations.  The  utility  of  the  insulating  material, 
known  as  gutta  percha,*  has  been  abundantlv  tested, 
both  by  scientific  experiment  and  in  practical  service. 
But  a  few  years  have  elapsed  since  its  introduction  a^  an 
article  of  trade ;  fewer  still  have  passed  since  its  suitabi- 
lity as  an  insulating  material  for  telegraphic  wires  was 
first  definitely  established.     The  credit  of  the  discovery  of 

•  "  Gutta  rercha.—A  valuable  substance,  known  only  within  the  last 
few  J  .jara.     It  is  the  concrete  juice  of  a  large  tree  (Isonavdra  gutta),  grow- 
ing in  certain  parts  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago.      The  first  specimen  of 
the  inppiaoated  juice  which  appeared  in  England,  was  presented  to  the 
Society  of  Arts  in  1843,  but  two  or  th.ee  years  elapsed  before  a  just  sense 
of  the  importance  of  the  substance  began  to  gain  ground.     In  1845  the 
importation  of  gutta  pcrcha  into  Plngland  amounted  to  only  20,  GOO  lbs. ;  in 
1848,  it  had  reached  3,000  000  lbs. ;  in  1851,  it  amounted  to  30,580,480 
lbs.     The  honor  of  having  drawn  attention  to  its  real  nature  and  uses  is 
duo  to   Drs.  D'Alnieida  and  W.  kontgomerie.     The  purposes  to  which 
gutUi  percha  is  applied,  are  tcx)  numerous  for  recapitulation.     It  resists  the 
action  of  water,  and  is  at  tlio  samo  time  a  bad  conductor  of  electricity ; 
it  is,  therefore,  etnployed  for  enclosing  the  metallic;  wires  used  in  tlio 
Kicctric  Telegraph.     Tlie  emciency  of  the  Submarine  Telegraph  is  largely 
due  to  this  valuable  8ubBUince."—IJomati.i'  Cydopmiia  of  Commerce. 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.      41 

this  peculiar  virtue  seems  to  be  justly  awarded  to  Mr.  S. 
T.  Armstrong,  of  tae  City  of  New  York.     This  gentle- 
man was  invited  to  visit  England  in  the  year  1847,  for  the 
purpose  of  examining  the  new  material,  then  just  coming 
into  notice  as  an  article  of  commerce.     The  practicability 
of  its  application  to  many  useful  purposes  was  considered 
settled.    A  new  branch  of  trade  appeared  to  be  opened 
by  its  discovery.     A  company  was  formed  in  New  York, 
of  which  Mr.  Armstrong  became  President.    The  first 
shipment  made  from  England  to  the  United  States,  was 
an  invoice  of  five  tons,  which  was  received  here  in  the 
year    1847.      Various   experiments    demonstrated    the 
utility  of  the  new  material  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
but  it  was  not  until  the  autumn  of  1848,  that  the  insulat- 
ing property  was  so  far  developed  as  to  be  relied  upon 
with  certainty.     At  that  period,  a  number  of  experiments 
were  made,  the  result  of  which       ved  that  copper  wires 
became  perfect  conductors  of   electricity  when  coated 
with  gutta  percha,  resisting  the  action  not  only  of  the  air, 
but  of  the  water;  and  that  a  telegraphic  wire,  encased 
in  this  material,  became  a  safe  conductor  of  au  electric 
current  under  conditions  which  would  otherwise  prove 
an  insuperable  bar  to  success.     This  was  the  germ  of 
tl'.e  Submarine  Telegraph,  and  it  would  be  unjust  to  Mr. 
Armstrong  U^  detract  from  the  merit  to  which  his  early 

Next  came  tlie  practical  solution  of  the  problem.     In 


42      Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

this  branch  of  the  subject  the  first  practical  experimenter 
seems  to  have  been  a  telegraphic  agent  in  an  office  at 
Montreal,  Mr.  F.  N.  Gisborne.    Other  persons  had  con- 
ceived  general  ideas  of  the  principles  of  constructing 
oceanic  telegraphs;  but  the  facts  in  the  history  of  early 
experiments  upon  this  point  demonstrate  that  the  first 
practical  apphcation  of  the  principle,  at  least  on  this 
•side  of  the  Atlantic,  was  made  by  Mr.  Gisborne.    In 
1851-2,   Mr.  Gisborne,  then  recently  from  England, 
went  to  HaUfax,  and  thence  to  New  Brunswick  and  the' 
United  States,  endeavoring  to  find  responsible  parties 
who  would  undertake  the  work  of  laying  a  submarine 
line.    He  was  unsuccessful  in  this  quest ;  but  in  a  few 
months  afterwards  received   partial    aid,   and    accom- 
plished the  experiment  of  laying    a  smaU  insr'  ted 
Cable  from  the  main  land  to  Prince  Edward  Island. 
His  next  step  was  to  lay  a  submarine  hue  from  New- 
foundland to  Cape  Breton,  and  in  a  prehminary  survey 
he  underwent  many  hardships.     In  the  interval  which 
elapsed  before  arrangements  could  be  made  for  perfecting 
this  project,  his  backers  failed.     In  the  Spring  of  1854 
Mr.  Gisborne  came  to  New  York,  placed  himself  in 
communication  with  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field,  enhsted  the 
sympathies  of  other  influential  gentlemen,  and  finally 
received  an  appointment  as  Superintendent  of  the  Com- 
pany which  wasforme.]  about  that  time  to  establish  a  line 
of  Telegraph  between  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland. 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.      43 

The  connexion  of  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field  with  the 
Atlantic  Telegraph  enterprise,  therefore,  dates  from  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1854.     Receiving  with  undoubt- 
ing  faith  the  plan  for  co  necting  the  continents  by  means 
of  an    Oceanic  Telegraph,    seeing  no  obstacles  which 
could  n.t  be  overcome  by  patient  perseverance,  and 
possessed  of  an  indefatigable  energy,  to  Mr.  Field  may 
be  accorded  the  honor  of  sustaining  the  nmin  burden  of 
an  extraordinary  effort.     When  others  sank,  discouraged 
by  the  pressure  of  untoward  evente,  and  dismayed  by 
the  prospect  of  failure,  this  gentleman  revived  hopes 
that  were  nearly  extinguished,  infused  fresh  energy  into 
the  efforts  of  his  associates,  and  finally  succeeded  in 
arousing  a  spirit  of  enterprise  which  has  reaped  its 
own  reward.     The  history  of  the  organization  of  the 
Telegraph  Company,  and  the  record  of  the  steps  in  the 
progress  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph   are  so  intimately 
a.s«ociatod  with  the  name  of  Mr.  Field,  that  we  may  be 
pardoned  for  a  brief  digression  from  the  main  subject  of 
this  narrative,  in  order  to  give  a  running  sketch  of  that 
gentleman's  personal  history. 

Cyrus  West  Field  is  a  native  of  Massachusette,  hav- 
ing be.  11  born  in  the  town  of  Stockbridge,  in  that  State, 
in  the  year  1819.  Tis  father  was  the  Reverend  D.  d! 
F^fELD,  a  native  of  East  GuiLord,  Connecticut,  a  graduate 
of  Yule,  and  fust  settled  at  lladdum,  Ot.  Dr.  Field  had 
nine  children— seven  sons  and  two  daughters.    The  sons 


m 


H      Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c, 

have  all  risen  to  distinguished  positions.     The  elder  bro- 
ther,  the  Hon.  David  Dudley  Field  of  New  York,  is  well 
known  on  both  sid^s  of  the  Atlantic  as  one  of  the  Revisers 
of  the  Code  of  the  State  of  New  York.    Maith^w  Dick- 
INSON  Field  is  a  leading  citizen  of  Massachuse*  d,  and  was 
recently  or  still  Senator.    Jonaphax  I^dwards  Field 
IS  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Cc  .fc  of  California.     The 
Rev.  Henry  M.  Field  was  foiwerlj  Pastor  of  a  Congre- 
gational society  in  West  Springfield,  Massachusette,  and 
no^    Editor  of  the  Mw    York  Evangelic.     One  son 
Timothy,  went  to  sea,  many  years  since,  and  has  nevei^ 
been  heard  from.    Cyrus  West  Field,  in  early  life 
came  to  New  York,  a  id  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  the 
esta:  bshment  of  Mr.  A.  T.  Stevart.     He  subsequently 
returned  to  Massachusette,  and  was  employed  in  the 
paper  manufactory  of  his  brother  Matthew,  in  the 
town  of  Lee;  and  on  attaining  his  majority  entered  into 
the  same  line  of  business  on  his  own  account,  at  West, 
field,  Massachusette,  but  failed  during  the  panic  of  1837 
He  then  returned  to  New  York,  and  established  a  large 
paper  commission   warehouse,  of  which  he  is  still  the 
head.    Some  four  or  five  years  ago,  Mr.  Field's  attention 
was  directed  to  the  project  of  an  Oceanic  Telegraph.    In 
the  spring  of  1854,  his  ideas  on  that  subject  first  took 
definite  shape,  and  the  active  and  earnest  cooperation  of 
several  prominent  citizens  of  New  York-among  whom    | 
-were  Messrs,  Peter  Cooper,  Moses  Taylor,  Mar-   ~" 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.     45 

SHALL  0.  Egberts,  Chandler  White,  S.  F.  B.  Morse 
and  David  Dudley  Field— was  given  in  aid  of  his 
enterprise.  The  further  development  of  the  plan  is 
recor;^ed  in  these  pages. 

In  p  .,r3on,  Mr.  Field  is  slight  and  nervous.  His 
weight  is  about  one  hundred  and  fortj  pounds.  His 
features  are  sharp  and  prominent,  the  most  striking 
pecuharity  being  the  nose,  which  projects  boldly.  His 
body  is  Hthe  and  his  manner  active;  eyes  grayish-blue 
and  small ;  foreLiead  large,  and  hair  auburn  and  luxuriant. 
He  does  not  appear  as  old  as  he  is.  The  steel  portrait 
which  accompanies  this  volume  conveys  a  perfect  idea  of 
the  appearance  of  the  man. 

Another  name,-that  of  Professor  MoRSE,-has  been 
intimately  associated  with  the  early  history  of  the  Atlan- 
tic Telegraph,  and  merits  particular  mentior      Although 
not  actively  connected  with  the  last  stages  o.      xt  under- 
taking, yet  Professor  Morse  has  freely  given  his  co-opera- 
tion  and  sympathy  to  it ;  while  the  acknowledged  value 
of  his  services  in  the  cause  of  Telegraphy  enlitles  him 
to  grateful  remembrance.     Samuel  Findlay  Breese 
Morse,  like  Mr.  Fi]:ld,  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
He  vas  born  at  Chariestown,  Mass.,  on  the  29ih  April, 
1791 ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1810  ;  and  then  went 
to  London  to  study  the  art  of  ^  minting  under  Benjamin 


West.    Retnmmo-  fr^  flio  tTt.^'*'--^  c*..i.„„  :..  -i  o-i  ^  i 


the 


iie  I) 


egaii 


practice  of  his  art  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 


'■V. 

i 


w 


46      Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

about  the  year  1820  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
National  Academy  of  Design.    He  revisited  Europe  in 
1829,  and  on  his  return  to  America  in  1832,  seems  to  have 
worked  out  the  plan  of  an  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph ; 
the  honor  of  which  invention,  however,  is  claimed  by 
Dr.   Jackson.      Of  this  point,  we  treat  brieJy  else- 
where.     Since  the  year   1835,  the   attention  of  Prof. 
Morse  has  been  chiefly  directed  to  Telegraphic  ope- 
rations ;   and  during  the  past  year  a  handsome  remune- 
ration has  been  voted  him  by  the  Continental  Govern- 
ments. 

We  return  to  the  narrative  of  the  primary  stages  of  the 
Telegraphic  enterprise. 

The  organization  of  the  New  York,  Newfoundland, 

and  London  Telegraph  Company  dates  back  to  the  year 

1854    xn  Marcn  of  that  year,  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field,  his 

brother,  David  Dudley,  and  Mr.  Chandler  Whtte 

were   commissioned  to  proceed  to  Newfoundland,    to 

obtain  ^.om  the  Government  of  the  Province  an  act  of 

incorporation.     On   arriving  at  St.  John's,  they  called 

upon  the  Governor,  who  convoked  the  Executive  Coun- 

cU  the  same  day.    The  Governor  gave  a  favorable  answer 

to  the  Commissioners,  and  immediately  F3nt  a  spec'al 

.  message  to  the  Legislature,  then  in  session,  recommending 

them  to  pass  an  act  of  incorporation,  with  a  ^'uaranty  of 

mterest  on  the  Company's  bonds  to  the  amount  of  £50,000, 

arxd  a  giant  of  fifty  square  miles  of  land  on  the  island  of 


I   jf  ! 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.     47 

Newfoundland,  to  be  selected  by  the  Company.    The  . 
tenns  were  agreed  upon. 

Additional  grants  wore  subsequently  received  frcn.  the 

Canada,  and  the  Sta,«  of  Maine,  and  afterwards  from 
the  Goveniments  of  Great  Britain  and  th.  United  States 
T  0  r  1  ,,,^^  negotiations  may  be  su...mari,ytd  • 
.^H  for  future  .ference.  in  this  place,  as  upo^  the 
.._al  nature  of  the  grants  depended  the  ultimate  results 
ot  the  project.  The  governmental  p^ts  extended  to 
Company,  from  fim  to  last,  have  therefore  been  as 


NEWFOUNDLAyD. 

Exctoive  p^-leges  for  flftj,  years  of  tading  Chle,  „„  New- 
foundland, Labrador,  and  Iheu- dependencie. 

The  exctaive  right  euAr^,  ,  eoaat  Une  extending  ft„m  fte  e„- 
t™n«  of  Hudaon's  Strait,  southwardly  and  westwJdly  ll  1" 
CO.S.  of  Labrador,  Newf„™dl.nd,  Prince  Edward  ll^  'cl 
^^.u.^^^™SeoUa,  and  the  State  Of  Ma.e,  and  .eir.;e:r 

.C::r.?''""°""-  -''-'  °"  -P--  -t  TeUgraph 
amilar  oo.ce^ion  of  additional  fifty  „„,„  mite  when  th»  Cable 
'..an  have  been  tad  between  Ireland  and  Newfoundland 

of  the  Telegi^ph!     '"  "'"""  "''™"  '"'"'"^  """  *"^  "^  ""» 


SH 


48     Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

Kemission  of  duties  on  importation  of  all  wires  and  materials  for 
tlie  use  of  the  Company. 


?RINCK   EDWARD  ISLAKD. 

Exclusive  privilege  for  fifty  years  of  landing  Cables. 

Free  grant  of  one  thousand  acres  of  land. 

A  grant  of  X300  currency  per  annum  for  ten  years. 

CANADA. 

Act  authorizing  the  building  of  telegraph  hnes  throughout  the 
Provinces. 

Remission  of  dutiee  m  all  wires  and  materials  imported  for  the 
use  of  the  Company. 

NOVA   SCOTIA. 

Grant  of  exclusive  privilege  for  twenty-five  years  of  landing 
Telegraphic  Cables  irom  Eurcne  on  the  shores  of  this  Province. 

STATE   OK  MAINE. 

Similar  grant  of  exclusive  privilege  for  like  period  of  twenty-five 
years. 

GREAT  BRITAIN. 

Annual  subsidy  of  £14,000  sterling  until  tiio  net  profits  of  the 
Company  reach  6  per  cent,  per  annum,  on  the  whole  capiul  of 
X3r)0,000  sterling,  the  grn:it  to  bo  then  rediirod  to  X10,000  sterling 
per  annum,  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years. 

The  aid  of  two  of  the  largest  sfoainships  in  the  English  navy  to 
liiy  the  Cable,  with  two  subsidiary  steamers. 

A  Government  steamship  to  take  any  turtlier  necwsary  sound- 
iDs?Ss  and  vyrify  fiiosp  a.!ri>a;!v  ♦sL-i^r-. 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 


49 


>1 


CNITED   STATES, 

Annual  sutady  of  $70,000  until  the  net  profit,  yield  6  per  cent. 
per  annum,  then  to  be  reduced  to  $60,000  per  «>num,  for  .  period 
0   lwenty-fl,e  yea,^  ^^j^,  ^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^      ^ 

alter  ten  yeare,  on  givmg  one  year's  notice. 

The  Uuited  Stau.  ateamship  ArcHc  to  make  and  verify  so^uding,. 
Jteamalups  2„a,cra  and  Su^ueianna  to  aa^iat  in  ,,y^,  ^ 


The  original  organisation  of  the  Company 


waa  cj 


n' 


NEW  YORK,  NEWFOUNDLAND,  AND  LONDON 
TELEGRAPH  COMPANY. 

DIRBOTOHS     IN      NEW      YORK: 


Peter  Cooper, 
Moses  Taylor, 

Peier  Cooper 
^  F.  B.  Morse, 
Moses  Taylor,  . 
Ckandler  White, 
David  Dudley  Field, 
F.  N.  (JraBORNE, 


Chandler  White. 


I     .    '^'^'^^   ^'^^  '^T   in    the  great   ^nk. 


Cyrus  W.  Field, 
Marshal  0.  Roberts, 


President. 

Vice  President. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

Counsel. 

Enpiueer. 


-..-jn>iiso.    now    r.)i.l,r 
'"-'Kurato.!,  wa^  the  connexion  of  St.  Joi.n  h  with  the 


f 

3 : 


m 


p 


so      Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

Tele^Tapliic  lines  already  in  operation  in  Canada  and 
the  United  States.     The  first  attempt  to  lay  these  wires 
wa^  made  in  1855,  but  it  then  proved  unsuccessful.     In 
1856  the  effort  was  renewed  with  success,  and  there  has 
been  little  interruption  of  the  union  between  the  two 
islands.     The  Cable  employed  for  this  sen-ice  is  quite 
large,  composed  of  three  strands,  and  has  three  conduct- 
•    ing  wires.     From  Port-au-Basque,  the  Cable  station  on 
the  western  part  of  Newfoundland,  the  telegraph  extends 
directly  across  the  island  to  Trinity  Bay,  the  American 
terminus  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph. 

In  the  year  1856,  the  Company  dispatched  Mr.  Cyrus 
W.  Field  to  England  to  enlist  the  aid  of  ca])italists  in 
that  country.     The  most  complete  success  attended  his 
efforts.     The  capital  stock  of  the  New  York  Company 
was  fixel  at  $1,750,000,  and  the  whole  wa^  subscribed 
for,— one  hundred  and  one  shares  in  London,  eighty -eight 
in   America,   eighty  six   in    Liverpool,    thirty-seven    in 
Ghusgow,  twenty-eight  in  Manchester,  and  the' remainder 
in  other  part«  of  England.     Tlie  capital,  however,  had 
to  be  subsequently  increased  to  $2,500,000,  to  meet  the 
failures  that  occurred  in  the  various  attempts  to  sub- 
merge the  Cable. 

Tiie  project,  when  brought  to  the  notiee  of  the  British 
aid  American  govcrmruMit^,  was  received  with  a  like 
degree  of  favor  and  liWral  subsidies  were  granted  ;  the 
Bubstjince  <W  uuin'/il.  Ur.^  ..i_ i..  i      „•_'•_        • 

■■■-1    :..-_     ....;.;:;,     {„,,,    lllUiCillcU. 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.       51 

The  Act  of  Congress,  approved  March  3,  1857  and 
the  Charter  of  Incorporation,  granted  by  Parliament,  are 
given  m  the  Appendix.  The  stipulations  contained  in 
these  acts  form  an  interesting  nart  of  the  general  history 
of  the  Telegraph.  ^ 

The  Charter  of  the  New  York,  Newfoundland,  and 
London  Company,  conferring  upon  it  the  exclusive  right 
to  land  telegraphic  cables  on  the  shores  of  Newfoundland 
and  other  parts  of  North  America,  and  for  twenty-five 
years  to  do  the  same  thing  on  the  shores  of  Nova  Scotia, 
was  made  over  to  the  -  Atlantic  Telegraph"  Company- 
the  Direction  of  which  is  now  constituted  aa  follows : 

Chairman. 

Samuel  Gcrnky,  M.P.,  London. 

Vice-CUairmaK. 

T.  H,  Brooking,  London. 

liirector*. 
Brett,  J.  W.,  London. 

Brown,  William,  M.P.,  Liverpool 

DuoDALE,  James,  Manchester. 

Uankey,  T.  a.,  LoiHon. 

Harrison.  IIenhv,  Aigburth,  near  Liverpool. 

Hornby,  Tuomas  Dyson,  Liverpool 

Johnston,  Edward,  Liverpool 

Lampbon,  C.  M.,  London. 

Le  Breton,  Franoih,  London. 

LooiK,  William,  Glaogow. 

Tkauody,  Gforue,  London. 

Tender,  Jou..^  Miuicl  eatt-r. 


52       Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

TlCKKRINO,  C.  \V.  11.,  L'vorp,K,I. 
ScHWAHE,  Gl-stav  Ckis.,  Liverpool. 
Thomson,  I'n.fossor  W.,  LL.D.,  Glasgow. 
Arouidald,  Hon.  E.  M.,  II.Af.  Consul,  New  York. 
Belmont,  Ar-GrsTE,  Banker,  New  York. 
Cooper,  rETEu,  Arerchant,  New  York. 
CoRBfN,  Francis  P.,  New  York. 
HcNT,  Wilson  G.,  Merchant,  New  York. 
Low,  A.  A.,   Merchant,  New  York. 
MoROAN,  Matthew,  Bank<>r,  New  York. 
Sherman,  Watts,  Banker,  New  York. 
Cartier,  Hon.  Georoe  E.,  Quebec,  Lower  Canada. 
Ross,  noN.  JcuN,  Toronto,  Upper  Canada. 
YoDNO,  Hon.  John,  Montreal,  Upper  Canada 
RoBK«rsoN,  Hon.  John,  St.  John,  New  Brunswick. 
General  Manager:  Cyrus  W.  Field.* 
Engiueer  :  Ch.viu.es  T.  Bright. 
Electrician:  E.  O.  W.  WHiTEnouflt 
Secretanj:  George  Sawarp. 
Solicitors:  Frehhueuvs  &  Newman. 
^,.i/^„.,.--,TovArHAN  R,oG,  No.  17  Mark  Lane,  Lon- 
•'"".  Merchant  ;  Hknrv  W.  IkACKBiRN, 

^*'"'"«'-'0*ork.shire,  Public Ac.o,u,Uuit.' 
Bankas:  The  Bank  ok  England. 

The  New  Vork  Con.pany  niso  made  ov.     to  tlu-  n,  w 
-pon..on   all  oo..ssions    hoari  ,,   ^ 
^':    -  -1'  niav   W  l..n.afl.r  ohtained,   and   ali  ti.o 
patent   nght.  of   Mc.srs.    Whitkho.sk   u.kI    BuiaHT, 


Origin   of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.      53 

which  in  any  way  concerned  the  working  of  instruments 
m  murine  circuit  of  great  length,  were  prospectively 
secured  to  it.     In  order  that  the  capital  subscribed  might 
be  entirely  applied  to  the  immediate  object  of  the  under- 
taking, the  projectors,  Messrs.  Brett  and  Field   and 
Messrs.    Bright    and  Whitehouse,   considerately  ar- 
ranged that  compensation  foi  the  privileges  assigned,  and 
ior  past  expenditure  and  exertions,  should  be  left  entirely 
dependent  on  the  successful  result  of  the  undertaking 
Tlie  final  agreement  with  these  gentlemen  was,  that  upon 
attaming  success,  a  half-yearly  dividend  of  ten  per  cent 
per  annum  on  the  capital  should  first  be  paid  to  tlie 
shareholders,  and  then  one-half  of  any  further  profit 
should  be  given  to  them,  and  the  other  half  be  retained 
by  the  Company,  it  having  been  estimated  upon  a  very 
moderate  computation  of  the  probable  amount  of  reve- 
nue, conjoined  wllh  a  consideration  of  the  comparatively 
small  working  expenses,  v, here  there  can  only  be  two  ter- 
inin     stations  to  be  maintain,.!,  that  a  very  satisfactory 
res.      might  be  seeure.1  to  all  j.arties  u|K>n  this  ground. 

«UL  \\o,  the  electrical  and  financial  })reparations  had 
terminatol  so  favorably  to  the  views  of  the  Company, 
thrre  were  other  tx)pi<.s  of  equal  moment  not  yet  satis- 
li"'ton!ydeterm.ned.  Tlie  solution  of  or.e  momrntous 
«in.«stion  rc^mained  to  bo  given.  Could  a  telegraphic 
wire  be  laid  on  the  bottom  of  the  Atlantic?  Everv  caro 
was,  therefore,  taken  to  bring  U)gether  all  the  evidenco 


54     Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c. 

that  could  be  gleaned  of  the  actual  character  of  the  vaat 
00  an,c  ba.,n,  which  waa  to  be  th.  scene  of  the  Z 
ente^nse.  and  to  collate  then,  with  the  labo.  o    C 

strafed  the  existence  of  an  AUanti.  fhUau* 

twelv    thousand  feet  below  the  level  of  the  sea    and 
xten  ed  .„  ,  eontinuous  ledge  fro.  Cape  Race,  in  N  w 
foundland,    to    Cape   Clear,   in  Ireland.      It,  JZx 
depre.„on  was  declared  to  be  in  n^d-ocean,  whence 
.mpcreepfblx  ascended  to  the  shore  on  eithe  Imc     In 
order  ;o  verify  the  theo^  of  such  a  plateau,  the  i^d  of 
the  government  „f  the  United  States  w'as  inv;^      ^  th 

rMAN,   IJ.S.N.,  was  twice  dispatched  in   the 
steamer^..,^  to  make  soundings  along  the  pro^o^i 

i«  1'°  ™f /'  ""-ations.'Her  BritTn^^ 
Majcstj  s  steamer  Cyclop.  traver«,d  the  ground  i„  an 

onciu  ,ve.     The  plam  was  gently  levelled,  so  deep  •« 
to  be  below  the  reach  of  ,,i,,turbi„g  superficial  cZeT 
and  composed  of  particles  of  shells,  so  minuMv  tritu: 
ra^d  as  to  render  their  character  mdetectible  savl  w  ^ 
ho  a.d  of  a  microscope.     Their  presence,  examined  by 
he    ights  of  science,  proved  how  little  thase  profound 
<^eptha  had  bc-en  d,.,turbe.,  i„  the  eou.e  of  ^J^ 


*   o 


-«|'J/CUU1A. 


Origin  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph,  &c.      j^ 

ages,  and  encouraged  the  hope  .hat  the  Cable,  when 
once  la.d  along  with  them,  might  rest  as  tranquil,;_pe  " 
haps  aa  long.    The  tendency  „f  ,^^  ^^^.^,^  ^ 
men,s  to  agglutinate  to  any  metallic  centre  exposed  to 
tht..,  held  out  the  expectation  that  the  submerged  Cable 
would  soon  be  thickly  envelope,  by  them,  and  a  fresh 
element  of  security  so  obtained.      The  accompanying 
map  compnses  a  complete  view  of  the  plateau,  L  i! 
stretches  from  shore  to  shore. 

Thi^  submarine  plateau  is  «aUy  a  gentlylevelled 
plam,  lymg  just  so  deep  as  to  be  inaccessible  to  the 
anchors  of  ships,  and  to  other  sources  of  surface-inter- 
ference,  and  yet  not  so  far  depressed  but  that  it  can  be 
reached  by  mechanical  ingenuity  without  any  very  .xtn,- 
vagant  eifort.    It  seems,  indeed,  that  it  is  a  portion  of  a 
great  .one  of  table  land,  which  entirely  engirdles  the 
earth,  or  which  at  least  stretehes  from  the  western  side 
oi  America  to  the  Asiatic  coasts  of  the  Pacific. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MENTS. 

JN  the  construction  of  the  Atlantic  Cable   many  i,.  • 
1  portant  consideration,  we.  necessaHl,  '^2 
^ount.    There  were  certain  characteristics  which  the 
Cable  must  possess,  to  enable  it  to  ™eet  the    "ult 
c^unstan^  of  the  ca.,  and  the  conditions  inTh  I 

It   would    be  Dlapprl       Tk^  wnicn 

w  piacea.     1  he  success  of  any  nlan  f..r  +;, 

layng  of  an  Oceanic  Telegraph  w.  Z'^/Vt 
g^eatl,  dependent  upon  the  for.  and  charalrfil^ 

trlct;  •:  ^"""  ."^  ^^'■■^^-'°^'^  P-->'^'^  to  ct 

"t  '"™"'''  '"  <=°™P»^^  <Jiff"™t  Plans  of 

«avepa.ientatt:;;;:jret::::'hM:""r 

bofore  them,  and  .fu,,  ,  ,„,,,,,  ^  "  -      <1 

t've  ments   of  plans  submitted    r...    ....  "''"■ 

-•i^v-.i      au  up  Lion, 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      57 

awarded  the  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  g  -eat 
Submarine  Cable  to  the  firm  of  Glass  &  Elliot  of 
Greenwich,  near  London.     The  beautiful  workmanship 
of  this  Cable  is  not  less  creditable  to  the  establishment 
in  which  It  wa£  manufactured,  than  honorable  to  the 
scientific  skUl  and  assiduity  of  Mr.  Glass,  the  senior 
partner  of  the  firm,  to  whom  the  Directors  unanimously 
accorded  the  praise  due  to  his  indefatigable  exertions  in 
their  mterest.     A  contract  for  the  construction  of  onp- 
half  of  the  Cable  wa3  subsequently  awarded  to  Messrs 
R.  S.  Newall  &  Co.,  of  Birkenhead. 

The  general  plan  of  the  Cable  havirg  been  adopted 
certain  specific  calculations  became  necessary.     The  first 
important  point  to  be  settled  was  the  weight  of  the  Cable 
Whib  it  must  be  sufiiciently  heavy  to  sink  quickly  u, 
the  bottom  of  the  sea  by  its  gravity,  when  launched 
from  the  stem  of  the  paying-out  vessel,  it  was  requisite 
that  any  excessive  weight  should  be  avoided;  else  the 
difficulty  of  management  in  the  deep  sea  would  become 
an  obstacle  almost  insuperable.     The  Directors,  in  an- 
nouncing to  the  stockholders  the  results  of  their  lon^r 
investigation,   dwelt  with   much  earnestness   upon   the 
difficulty  which  they  encountered,  in  the  commencement 
of  the  enterprise,  in  the  determination  of  this  delicate 
problem.     They  cited  tlie  account  given  by  Mr.  Brett, 
of  his    unsuccessful    attom.pt   in   o^nncct   Euro-;c   --'' 
Africa  by  a  Cable  of  massive  construction  ;  and'Irrued 


j8     Cable— Construction  and  Experiments. 

from  tlu,  experience  of  that  gentleman,  that  the  man.^e- 
men  of  heavy  Cables  in  the  <.ean  would  be  an  imprL 
^eable  undertaking.     I,;  „„  ^he  contrary,  the  Cable 
were  too  hght,  n  would  be  at  the  merey  of  the  currents 
Its  mtegrity  would  be  greatly  risked,  its  strands  .nigh^ 
be  separated,  and  its  insulation  destroyed.     Again    it 
was  obviously  desirable  that,  size  and  specific  weight 
l«.ng  given,  the  Cable  should  be  made  aa  strong  as 
material  and  dimensions  allowed.    Its  positive  require- 
ments  were  tenacity  and  flexibility.      The  ingenious 
eombmafon  of  these  qualities  with  a  perfect  electrical 
condition,   which  were  attained  as  the  result  of  the 
careful  experiments  of  Mr.   Glass,   aided  by  distin- 
guished  scientific  gentlemen,  justified  the  choice  of  his 
plan  by  the  Directors  of  the  Company. 

The  Atlantic  Cable,  now  lying  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ocean  ,s  an  extremely  simple  contrivance.    No  altera- 
tion  has  been  made  in  its  construction  during  the  entire 
progress  of  the  Telegr.nph  E.xpeditions.  Severe  tests  have 
failed  to  develope  defects  in  ite  practical  operation:  elec- 
trical experiments  have  established  its  fitness  for  the  pur- 
pose designed ;  the  frigate  m.ara  has  tested  its  strength 
by  swinging  to  it  as  though  at  anchor  in  mid-oeean  •  its 
wonderi-ul  flexibility  has  been  proved  by  repeats!  trial,. 
Had  the  Atl..ntic  Telegraph  enterprise  developed  onl^ 
this  remarkable  result  of  mechanical  ingenuitv,  the  work 
would  not  have  been  un,iertik,.„  in  ,.„:„   "  ,    _,     , 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      59 

thread,  laid  by  powerful  mechanism  at  the  bottom  of  a 
va^t  ocean,  and  laid  without  a  flaw  or  breaV,  linking 
two  worlds  together  in  bonds  of  amity,  and  marking 
a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  earth,  is  in  itself  a 
triumph. 

The  iUustration  on  page  62  sliows  the  exact  size  of 
tLc  Atlantic  Cable. 

The  profile  view  of  the  Cable  (p.  63)  gives  a  general 
-iea  of  ite  appearance  when  ready  for  use.  In  order  to 
show  more  fully  the  process  of  manufacture,  an  illus- 
tration  of  sections  of  the  Cable  is  given  on  page  63. 

The  central  conducting  wire  is  a  strand  made  up  of 
seven  wires  of  the  purest  copper,  known  in  the  trade  as 
No.  22.     The  strand  itself  is  about  the  sixteenth  of  an 
inch  in  diameter,  and  is  formed  of  one  straightly  drawn 
wire,  with  six  others  twisted  round  it;  the  twisting  hav- 
ing been  accomplished  by  dragging  the  central  wire 
from  a  drum  through  a  hole  ir  a  horizontal  table;  the 
table  itself  revolving  rapidly,  under  the  impulse  of  steam, 
carrymg  near  its  circumference  six  reels  or  drums,  each 
armed  with  copper  wire.      Each  drum  revolved  'upon 
its  own  horizontal  axis,  and  delivered  ite  wire  as  it  turned 
This  twisted  form  of  the  conducting  wire  was  first  used 
in  the  Submarine  Cable  laid  across  the  St.  Lawrence  in 
1856.     It  was  then  employed  with  a  view  to  the  reduc- 
tion to  the  lowest  possible  amount  of  the  chance  of  an 
intcirupiion  of  contmuity.     It  was  considered  improba- 


6o       Cable  -Construction  and  Experiments. 

hie  that  a  fracture  would  occur  in  more  than  one  of  the 
wires  m  this  twisted  strand  at  precisely  the  same  spot  • 
so  that,  although  the  .vhole  seven  wires  migh^  be  broken 
at  different  parte  of  the  strand,  the  capa^y  of  the  Cable 
for  the  transmission  of  the  electric  current  would  not  be 
•destroyed.    During  the  process  of  manufacture  at  Green- 
wich, the  copper  used  in  the  construction  of  the  Atlantic 
Cable  was  assayed  from  time  to  time  in  order  to  insure 
absolute  homogeneity  and  purity.     Experiments  upon 
the  strand  itself  proved  that,  when  subjected  to  strain  it 
was  capable  of  stretehing  20  per  cent,  of  its  length  w/th- 
out  breakage,  and  without  material  interference  with  ite 
conducting  power. 

^    Thi.  yielding  temper  in  a  strand  of  pur^  -x,pper 
inspired  grave  doubte  in  the  minda  of  many  gentlemen 
connected  with  the  early  stages  of  the  undertaking     It 
was  a,  tk-.pated  that  when  the  Cable  was  subjected  to 
Btram,  the  yielding  core  would  become  attenuated  to 
such  an  extent  that  it.  capacity  for  the  transmission  of  a 
cu^nt  would  be  virtually  destroyed.    To  meet  thia 
objection,   and  dispel  the  growing  apprehension,  Mr 
Whitehouse,  a  capable  eLctrician,  who  had  taken  an 
active  part  in  ,he  scientific  investigations  pertinent  to 
th«  undertaking,  devised  a  simple  and  veiy  effective 
experiment.    He  connected  three  lengths  of  the  Cable  of 
200 miles  each  into  a  continuous  line,  and  then  passe]  a 
currert  from  two  36.inch  double  induction  coils  excited 


I  ^ 


Cable-Construction  and  Experiments.      6i 

by  10  Smee  cells,  each   having  plates  of  100  square 
inches  of  area,  through  the  600  miles  of  Cable  to  the 
magneto-electrometer.     The  weight  of  745  grains  was 
raised  on  the  end  of  the  steel  yard,  and  wa.  thus  the 
measure  of  the  current  after  transmission  through  the 
Cable.     He  next  made  a  ^»-o,.k  in   the  Cable  at  the 
distance  of  400  miles  from  the  nearer  end,  and  introduced 
into  the  gap  one  mil       ^  fine  insulated  wire,  which 
possessed  only  one-eleventh  of  the  capacity  of  the  copper 
strand.     This  prop,  rtion  was  ascertained  by  .ei-hing 
equal  lengths  of  the  wire  and  the  str.    .     The  pieco  of 
wire   weighed  three  grains,   and  the  piece  of  strand 
weighed  thirty-thre.  and  a  half  gx-ains.     A  current  from 
the  same  induction  coils  was  now  again  passed  through 
600  miles  length  of  Cable  to  the  m.^gne^ -electrometer 
with  the  one-mile  length  of  fine  wire  interpolated  in  its 
course,  and  725  grains  were  lifted  on  the  steel-yard 
Only  twenty  gr..  ;fting  power  out  of  a  force  equi- 

valrat  to  745  gr:..._,  aad  been  lost  in  consequp-  o  of  the 
introduction  of  the  imle  of  fine  wire,  measuring  .ut  one- 
eleventh  of  the  central  strand.  The  fear  that  a  st-ctch 
of  two  feet  in  a  mile  for  six  miles  of  the  Cable  would 
render  it  electrically  unfit  for  service,  was  thus  '4.  by 
showing  that,  if  the  entire  copper  strands  of  the  Cable 
^crc  stretehed  96  feet  in  every  mile,  the  loss  of  con- 
ducting capability  would  amount  to  no  more   than  a 


~^^  V  Cii  Lli    L/cir*tJ, 


62      Cable— Construction  and  Experiments. 

A  subsequent  experiment  determined  the  fact  that  the 
copper  strand  bore  twenty  per  cent,  of  th.  elongation 
without  mjurj  to  its  integrity  of  texture,  or  in  other 
words,  it  could  be  stretched  one  thousand  feet  in  a  mile 
not  only  without  breaking,  but  without  impairing  it^  tele- 
graphic  utility.     The  copper  strand,  indeed,  wps  never 
broken  until  elongated  to  the  extent  of  twenty  five  or 
thirty  per  cent.     These  experiments  having  satisfied  the 
incredulous-a  troublesome  class  of  persons  who    ^way. 
swarm  upon  the  track  of  a  new  invention,  and  w,     e  lit- 
tle faith  is  sometimes  a  serious  bar  to  progress-tbc  con- 
struction of  tiie  Cable  wa^  pushed  forward  with  remark- 
able vigor.     The  general  plan  of  manufacture  is  exhi- 
bited in  another  page.     The  following  is  a  veilical  section 
of  the  Atlantic  Cable,  showing  the   position  of  the 
central  conducting  v.  ires,  with  their  cover- 
ings of  guttji-percha,  rope-y^rn,  and  twisted 
wires. 

The  principal  processes  tlirough  which  the 
Cable  passed  were  four  in  .iuniber--!   tho  ^'""■^•""'•^■".•« 

+  _•     .•  r     1  ,  '  "•'Till  A.I.ANTKl 

twistingofthe  conducting  wires;  2,  a  triple  i*;!''^-"*^' 
coating  of  gutta-percha;  3,  a  covering  of  fhic  thread 
yarn  soaked  in  a  mixture  of  pit.h,  tar.  oil,  and  tallow; 
4,  the  final  enclosure  -  f  twisKxl  wire. 

We  shall  describe  these  ]m^co,sc,  in  their  order  The 
copper  strand  of  the  Cable  having  hoen  prepared  m  ,he 
manner  already  indicated,  wiw  rnll,..l  i _ 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.       C3 


PROFILB    VltW    OF   THE    A    1  ANTIC   OALLK^HAOT    SlZft 


I 


iffl 


VIE       OF  TUK  /I  ri.ANTIC  CABI.R  IN  HECTTONS. 


1.  Kxtorior .  „vori„K  ..f  wirc«  oiKhteoii  in  number,  ornc-von  slranis  each. 

U.  ('<)vi'rii)j(  of  tarrt'tl  ropo-ya.  u. 

3  Thrco  coatiiiKH   ■iVutta-j.enlui. 

4.  CoppiT  conducting  wiros,  seven  in  uumhrr 


64      Cable-Construction  and  Experiments, 
waa  comploted,  in  lengths  of  two  „i,es.     It  was  taken 
from  thse  drums  to  receive  a  eoatin.  of  three  separate 
ye.  of  refi„e.l  gutta-pe.ha.     The  original  diameL  of 
the  conducting  wire  before  this  coating  waa  one-sixteenth 
of  an  mch     After  receiving  the  coating,  the  diameter 
was  ...creaaed  to  three-eighths  of  an  inch.    These  preiimi. 
.iury  processes  were  by  far  the  most  important  of  the 
whole  for  the  perfection  of  the  insulation  of  the  CaWe 
depend,  upon  the  integrity  of  the  i„sul.ating  materia, 
Tree  coatings  of  gutta-percha  were  applied  at  suitable 
.ntcrvals  to  insure  the  efficiency  of  the  work.    The  gutta 
P-cha  employed  for  the  purpo.,e  waa  proparei  with  tlie 
utmos    possible  care.     Lumps  of  the  crude  substa 

placed  with.n  a  hollow  eaae.     The  raspings  we^  th™ 
P-i  between   rolle.,  and  niacera  J  m' hot  w.^ 
alterwards  „,.hed  in  cold  water,  and  driven,  ata  b<,ili„: 
water  temperature,  by  hydraulic  power,  through  w 
Kauze   .,,eve.s,  atUched  to  the  bottom   of  „,dc  veitic  , 

Pjpes.     The  gutta-percha  came  out  from  „.e.,e  sieves 
.l-t,c   ,n,y  of  remarkable   purity  and   fiuenes..      ," 

tl.cn  pa..ed  into  an  apparatus  known  .x,  a  mas,i,.a,o. 

—ug  of  a  series  of  interrupted  S...W.,  „,,.,,,i,,,  „; 
...How   cylinders;    -I..    ,„„,.,ri,„     ,,„.,„^ 

,.';;*'■  "^^'^ --  -n  ".-.,a,„.er,  i ,„„„„' 

JH"  'l-e  wa  er  and  render  ,l,e  ,ubs,an,,.  pern.Hv  ,  ,. 

goneou.,.     Ib.rizonudcylinde^hea.....  I.,:.., ^ 


rrci-j  v'cti 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      65 

the  purified  gutta-percha.  Screw-pistons  driven  down 
slowly,  but  with  resistless  force,  pressed  the  material 
through  a  die,  which  at  the  same  time  had  the  strand  of 
copper  wire  moving  along  through  its  centre.  The 
strands  entered  the  die  naked,  bright  copper  wire,  and 
emerged  as  thick,  dull-looking  cords,  having  received  one 
complete  coating.  The  same  process  was  repeated 
until  three  coatings  inclosed  the  copper  strands. 

The  Cable,  having  been  prepared  thus  far  in  lengths 
of  two  miles,  rigorous  tests  of  insulation  and  electric 
continuity  were  applied.     Each  length  was  coiled  on  a 
wooden  drum,  with  a  short  piece  of  the  copper  con- 
ductor projecting  at  each  end.     These  drums  were  then 
immersed  in  water,   and  the  task   of  the   Electricians 
hogan.     The  continuity  was  a^ertained  by  passing  a 
voltiuc  current  of  low  power  through  the  strand,  from  a 
battery  of  a  single  pair  of  plates,  and  causing  it  to  record 
a  signal  aft.^r  issuing  from  the  wire.     The  amount  of 
insulation   was   determined   by  a  different  plan.     One 
1-lc  of  a  voltai,.  battery,  consisting  of  500  jairs  of  plates 
W.-US  connoctcl  wit),  the  earth  ;  the  other  pole  w.s  unitecl 
to  a  w.rc  coil.Hl  around  the  needle  of  a  sensitive  hori- 
y.ouia\  galvanomeU-r,  and  runn.ng  thenee  to  the  exposed 
strand  of  th.  Cab!.,   whu-h   w.u  Ml  without  any  .,h- 
'Inet.ng  ...nununieation.      If  th.  insulation  w.us  porl-rt 
»!'<'  <'nith  forme.l  on.'  pojr  of  th,.  i,,,ti,.rv   'vu\  .1..  ..-i    p 
"ic  insulated  strar.d  the  other  pole,  the'eircuit  n.nahiini, 


tl 


66 


Cable-Construction  and  Experin.ents. 


open:  consequent!,,  no  current  passed,  and  the  needle 

d  g*  ^t~7.-  "<"  <J^«-ed  in  the  slightest 
degree.  If  the  msulafon  was  imperfect,  or  there  was 
undue  electrical  permeability  in  the  sheath  of  JZ 
percha  a  portion  of  the  current  forced  its  way  fro^t  e 

Tt  *?«"  '^'  ^"""^  P'--  »  *e  covering  of  gutt 
percha,  and  the  needle  of  the  galvanometer  was  dcflecid 

n!t  rr:  ■■  ""  '°""'  *"'  *^  "-'  coating  was 
not  a  thorough  n.sulation,  a  slight  deflection  being  pro- 
duce  ,n  the  needle,  but  insufficient  to  cause  'Z 
mterferenee   wuh   te' -graphic   operations.      A    certaL 

an    safe.     It  was  only  when  this  degree  wa,  exceeded 
hat  the  core  was  condemned.     While  the  test  for  coa 
.nu,ty  was  ab-so.u^  that  which  determined  the  i  su    . 
t.on  was  ,„  a  measure  relative.    A  vety  powerful  bl  ! 
~d  .„  the  tests  for  insulation,  in 'order  to  ZZ 
he  tnal  a.s  severe  .as  possible.     During  the  prog^ss  of 
hese  c,p,„„,„.,_  -  ing-nious  method  .LS^Z 
for  the  purpo,,e  of  testi,,,  at  the  s,ame  time  both  the 
eontunnty  and  the  insulation.     The  oper2„ 
follows-     TJ,  ,  operation   w.xs  as 

follows.     The  euuro,   hn^rtk  ..f  t},,,  Cable  whs   ini      l 
into  a  loop  or  enclJ(.ss  rin,.      i  ^  ''''''^ 

oi  .MM)  pairs  of  n hfeo  ,.  .,  .   .   .  ,  ,  ->' 

„.,,    ,/  I  r'ans    >•'- '••-nncet.un.v  one  of  ifa  poles 

w,,      he  ,.n.,re,v  i,,.,u,at „d  of  „..  c.ble,  an    ^ 

JUS  other  i)ol(>  with   ♦!..,  „.._.!       r.„  -^ 

"" '•      "'^'   circuit  wa.s   thus 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      67 

insulated  aa  a  whole,  and  charged  a«  a  Levden  jar.  But 
a  eharged  I.,,de„  jar  may  be  made  a  part  of  a  voltaic 
crcmt;  and  therefore  this  charged  ring  of  wire  waa  able 
to  tmnamit  a  low-tenaion  circuit  without  it,  charge  being 
interfered  with.  A  small  insulated  battery  was  then 
mtroduced  into  the  circuit,  and  its  low  current  flowed 
from  pole  to  pole  through  the  strand. 

A  bell,  also  insulated,  waa  so  placed  in  the  same 
crcmt  that  any  break  of  continuity  dropped  a  needle 
prevously  held  by  magnetic  attraction,  released  some 
whed-work,  and  sounded  an  alarm ;  the  bell  was  eonse- 
quently  heard  whenever  the  contmuity  of  the  strand 
f^dcd.  Another  bell  was  so  placed  as  ,0  be  rung  when- 
ever the  current  from  the  fivc-hundred-cell  battery 
lain        '""^"'  '"''"'  '"  '""'^1"™'^'^  "f  f»lty  insu- 

Klectriea!  experimenta  having  finally  established  the 
perfecfon  of  eontinu.ty  and  insulation,  the  Cable  waa 
now  ready  to  undergo  the  proces.,  of  j„ini„g  the  lengths. 
The  tw„.m,le  eoils  of  completed  nn,l  proved  core  were 
wound  on  large  ,lrums,  with  projecting  llanges  „n  each 
s.cle,   the  rims  of  whieh  were  shod  with  iron  tires,  so 
1  .at  they  could  be  rolled  about  ,u,  broad  wheels.     When 
tl.e  core  w.«  in  position  on  ,hc«  ..hannellod  dnuns  ,ho 
creumfcrcnc.  of  e.,eh  .Irum  was  ,.|ose,i  in  ..an.fuUv  bv  a 
slKvt  of  KMJtta-norch.T      T).-.  «,..>u    .  i-  .,  "      ' 

n.nnufaclur,.rs  ended  will,  thi.,  final  preparation.     The 


68      Cablc-Constructfon  and  Experiments. 

corcfiUcl  ,lru,„,  p,„.e.l  from  il,.i,  |„„a,  i„t„  ^j^^  ^^ 
t<«  V  or  tl,o  j„i„.,..  fei,  j,„,„  „^,  ^^^^_  _^^^_^^^ 
w.th  axlc«,  the  gutta.porclM  covering  removed,  and  the 
Jirojectrng  on,h  of  the  c„,.,,,er  strands  carefully  braral 
t"g.>ther.  This  process  may  b«  ,k«riW  aa  follows- 
A  p.e,«  of  copper  wire  wa.,  attached  by  firm  bra.!,,,  an 

-  .ortwobeyon,!  the  point  of  junction  on  one  side 

tiKb  ly  woun,I  roun.1  until  it  reached  to  the  san.e  extent 

"..  the  other  side,  and  was  then  f,„„ly  brazed  on  again 

A  seen,  pic.ee  of  copper  wire  w,u,  then  bm.ed  over  the 

.rst  „,  the  same  hushion,  and  extended  a  little  wav 
b-Tond  .t;  and  «,^„,  „„,,,„   ,,,^^^  _,^  J 

«-  e,.re,„lly  ,a,„  over  and  around  the  joint  by  .he 

-  o  hot  ,rons.  This  operation  is  identical  with 
'  -tof  -Tl-ng  the  Cable,  which  h,^  been  repeatedly 
ollected  w,th  entire  success,  and  by  mean,  of  which  the 

■'.v".K  ..f  the  wire  in  „,i,|.oec.au  w,.  accomplished  during 
tbe  h.t  voya,.,.  of  the  AV,,v„,„  and  A,a„..nnon.     A 
cle.tr  ulea  of  the  sUges  of  this  delicate  man.pul.Uon  is 
B.ven  ni  the  snbj„ine,l  illustration. 

,'",'"  ,"■''*'"■" "■  II-  ■"'■'1">J  of  "Plicing  the  Cable 

winch  lu«  already  be.  u  given,  will  suffice  for  a  compre' 
l.™.s,ve  vew  of ,,  part  of  the  Telegraphic  enterprise  npon 
whu.,  depended  ,he  suece^  of  the  whole.     Jt  w.ll  be.  seen 

■■"''"■'"■•■' ■"'•"-^"-'"■tncd  connexion  mu.st 

b.' preserved  even  ,r,l,e  joint  in  the  Cable  yields.     In 
tlJC  event.  <)('   1  .iii.f..^..     i>  .1      .,  .  .     . 

^■^"''   '-'  '''^  ^"^'^.  i>y  which  the  euro 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      69 

on  each  side  sliould  be  dragged  opposite  ways,  the 
electric  condition  would  still  remain  perfect.  The  outer 
investment  of  the  wire  would  unroll  spirally  aa  the  enda 


<^^^^^\\NS««!^>^HA^9^Nv^vv«v^^\«> 


'«>V>C.«!S>iVS«w; 


'i'fNS'WNNXXVSN 


^*>!«««W««S 


iNW**>8<8*<V 


4mB||^^- 


THE   81'LICE   or   THE   CABLE. 

of  the  Cable  were  pulled  asunder;  so  that  however  the 
mechanical  continuity  of  the  strand  itself  might  be 
broken,  the  conducting  power  would  still  remain. 

Aa(!r  the  lengths  l.ad  been  joined  in  the  manner 
iiulieated,  the  Cable  underwent  another  j.rociess,  passing 
to  a  "serving"  maehino,  litte<l  with  a  hori/,unt^il  wheel, 
"H  which  were  j)laeed  five  bobbins.  Kaeh  b.>l)bin  was 
«ii|ii)iu'd  with  soiiK'  hiuidreds  of  vMrdq  -.r  nve.*i.r^=-...i 
ro])e-yarn,    prepared   for   the    purpose    by   a   previous 


70     Cable-Construction  and  Experiments. 

he  wheel,  and  as  u  pa^d  up,  the  bobbins,  revolving  at 
the  r^te  of  three   hundred  and  seventy-five  fmla 
-nute.  spun  the  five  strands  of  yarn  tiJhtJaLuTit 
not  leavng  the  smallest  incemice.    At  this  stal   '^ 
preparation  the  Cable  passed  fro.  this  ma  eh    e  tXt 

of  an  rneh;  while  the  eleetrie  current  with  which  it  wa. 

that  the  connexion  and  insulation  of  each  fathom  as  i 

The  Cable  bemg  now  in  a  state  of  great  forwardness 
only  remained  to  "close"  or  bind  it  up  i„  Z    2 
this  purpose  another  horizontal  t-M.  T 

one  for  th.  «„    ■  ™'"'  '^'''<''  a^anged  like  the 

for  the  serving  process,  was  provided.    It  carried 
ear  its  circumference  eighteen  bobbins  or  drums    ^ 
drum  fi  led  with  bright  charcoaLiron  wire,  S^t 
t-o  motions,  one  round  ita  horizontal  alls   and  2 
round  an  upright  pivot,  inserted  into  the  revoU-ig  tabic 

centre  of  he.  tabic  as  it  was  carried  swiftly  round     The 

™ns^^ndwasoft,.esamedianiel..aatLwhthwl 
u^.<]  for  the  copper  core,  each  strand  consisting  of  seven 

onwires     Wit,.eachwh,,.lof.hoclosii,g.maehne      I 

^:::t:''';:;^'™''^"^-^™'^«™-^tre 

vcuuai  core.     Ihe  coro.  ncfnr.f^.7  u,.  .1 

-'•-  -  ^j  tiiU  runLis  01  the 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      71 

machinery,  rose  through  the  middle  of  the  table  and 
ascended  towards  the  ceiling;   the  metallic  twist,  as  it 
passed,  tightly  embracing  it.     One  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  iron  wires  were,  therefore,  woven  about  the  Cable 
m  order  to  complete   the  process  of  ite  manufacture. 
Twenty-one  of  these  machines  were  kept  constantly  at 
work  in  the  factory  of  Messrs.  Glass  &  Elliott,  and 
about  an  equal  number  in  Newall's  establishment  at 
Birkenhead.      The   labor   accomplished    at    Glass    & 
Elliott's  establishment  in  the  course  of  twenty-four 
boura,   by  the  use    of   twenty-one  machines,   was    as 
follows:    Two  thousand  and  fifty-eight  miles  of  iron 
wire  were  daily  twisted  into  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  miles  of  strand;  this  length  of  strand  sufficing  to 
cover  about  ten  miles  of  the  Cable. 

The  Cable  thus  completed  was  drawn  from  the  closing- 
machines  at  the  rate  of  thirty  feet  per  minnte,  or  eighteen 
hundred  feet  per  hour,  parsing  through  a  gauge  of  five- 
eighths  of  an  inch  diameter.     It  was  then  carried  by 
revolving    wheels    through  a  tank    of  hot  tar,    issu- 
ing forth  into  the  yard  thoroughly  fitted  for  the  duty  to 
which  it  was  to  be  devoted.     In  the  yard  it  was  coiled 
away  in  huge  piles,  ready  for  shipment;    each   day's 
labor  adding  some  inches  to  the  height  and  bulk  of  the 
mass. 

The  weight  of  the  main  Cable  was  eiffhteon  hundred 


and 


sixty  pounds,  or  nearly  one  ton,  to  the  mile.     For 


72     Cable-Construction  and  Experiments. 

the  shore-ends,  a  heavier  style  was  provided,  of  a„s 

n.»t^,.e„.ion3andg.eat.,ino.easedpowe;of.Z 
ance  but  constructed  upoa  the  same  general  plan     Tt,. 

m.Ie,  and  the  diameter  at  the  shor«  is  about  one  and  a  half 

-t  orthitrirr^  -^■•^^^  ^  -- 

the  exact  size.     This  part  of 

the  Atlantic  line  is  encased 

by  twelve  sohd  charcoal-iron 

wires  of  No.  1  gauge.     The 

No.    1     wires    pass    gradu- 

a%  into  No.  2,  and  No.  2  into 

No.  3,  as  deep  water  is  reach-  .^ 

^.    The  gutta-percha  casing    '™-„.„^..o,.»,..^.„ 
and  serving  of  tarred  hemp        *"-"™  "•"-"«-«-. 

are  also  thicker  upon  these  "shore-ends"  a.  well  aa  the 
outer  iron  coat.  '°® 

The  Directors  of  the  Companv,  in  their  official  mani 

festo,  pubhshed  last  year,  took  occasion  to  explain  th 

reasons  why  a  return  circuit  had  not  bee,.  p.ovi    d    n 

planmng  this  Cable.    It  wa.,  well  known  that  in    ve  y 

and  telegraph  yet  brought  into  use,  the  earth  itself  hid 

been  found  sufficient  for  the  completion  of  :,e  cireul 

and    encc  a  return  wi.  could  not  be  deemed  absol      ,y 

essential.     Moreover,  thp  n,U;*;..^  ^^ -^  -         .     ■  ^ 

-  -I.  ^-..  >to,^v/»jiia  WHO  would 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      73 

have  adaed  largely  to  the  si^e,  weight,  and  expense  of 
the  Cable,  and  would  have  unavoidably  deferred  the 
completion  of  an  Atlantic  Telegraph  to  another  year 

The  total  cost  of  the  Atlantic  Cable  wa^  nearly  five 
hundred  dollars  per  mile.     The  aggregate  outlay  of  the 
Company  in  the  year  1857,  en  account  of  the  construe 
tion  of  the  Cable  alone,  was  stated  as  follows:— 


Price  deep-sea  wire  per  mile, 

Price  spun-yarn  and  iron  wire  per  mile, 

Price  outside  tar  per  milu    . 

Total  per  mile. 

For  2,500  miles. 

For  10  miles  deep-sea  Cable,  at  $1,450  per  mile. 

For  25  mUes  shore-ends,  at  $1,250  per  mile. 

Total  cost      . 


$200 

265 

20 


$485 


$1,212,500 
14,500 
31,250 

$1,258,250 


The  scientific  experimente  which  were  undertaken  by 
competent  electricians  in  the  employ  of  the  Company 
established  the  fact,  that  a  wire  across  the  Atlantic  was 
not  only  practicable,  so  far  as  mechanical  possibility  was 
concerned,  but  that  the  scientific  difficulties,  wbi'-.],  were 
naturally  suggested  as  the  efl'ect  of  distance,  and  ti.e 
peculiar  conditions  in  the  son,  were  not  insuperable. 


i^-  general  vi.'w  oltlie  n'sults  ut  ear,  i 

4: 


m 


.  :  U 


u 


ui  c.\p(  riinents, 


74      Cable— Construction  and  Experiments. 

which  finally  decided  the  Directors  upon  .he  adoption  of 
the  plan  of  an  Atlantic  Cable,  now  succe^^.my  carried 
out,  presents  a  record  of  industrious  scit  <>[[c  ^^'^lication 
that  may  uot  inappropriately  form  a  pa^    .  .    'e  history 
of  the  enterprise. 

In  the  ordinary  arrangement  of  the  w':  >     r  the  Elec- 
tric Telegraph,  where  they  are  stretched  upon  posts,  and 
msulated  by  glass  and  the  surrounding  air,  the  current 
of  electricity  runs  along  as  a  simple  stream,  and  with  a 
velocity  that  is  almost  inappreciable  lor  ordinary  dis- 
tar^ces.     But  when  the  wires  are  inclosed  i:.  a  sheath  of 
msulating  substance,  like  gutta-percha,  and  placed  in  a 
moist  mc(    im,  or  a  metallic  envelope,  the  case  is  very 
-■■•-Terent.     The  mfluence  of  induction  then  comes  into 
play  as  a  -etarding  power.     As  soon  as  the  insulated 
central  wire  is  electrically  excited,  that  excitement  ope- 
rates upon  the  adjoining  layer  of  metal  or  moisture,  and 
calls  up  in  it  an  electrical  force  of  an  opposite  kind. 
Each  of  these  forces  disguises,  or  holds  ilist,  an  equiva- 
lent portion  of  the  ,3thcr,-and  the  electricity  of  the  cen- 
tral wire  is  thus  prevented  from  moving  freely  onward 
as  It  otherwise  woul  ..     T:  i,  found,  in  short,  that  the 
Submarine  Telegraph  Cable  is  virtually  a  lengthened 
Ley  den  jar,  and  ^rarsmits    ignals  while  being  charged 
and  duscharged,  instead  of  merely  by  allowing  a  stream 
of  the  electrical  innuence  to  flow  dynamically  and  evenly 


along  it.   And  evcrv  time  >*  I-  n=n.i  -.i- 1 


1.--IT  ..  -l  

UU.J:  iirsr  10  be  iilied 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      75 

and  then  emptied.    In  the  case  of  a  long  submarine  wire, 
this  was  found  to  be  a  task  requiring  considerable  time,- 
and  this  was  found,  moreover,  to  be  very  muc'    '  icrealed 
with  an  increase  in  the  length  of  the  wire.     And  -.  hen 
experiments  came  to  be  made  in  1851,  upon  telegraphic 
lines  running  underground,  between  London,  Manches- 
ter, and  Glasgow,  and  upon  others  partly  underground, 
and  partly  submarine,  between  London,  Paris,  and  Brus- 
sels, it  was  found  that  the  speed  of  the  current  did  not 
exceed  1,000  miles  per  second.   In  that  year,  Mr.  White- 
house  invented  a  veiy  ingenious  method  of  detennining 
with  precision  the  force  of  currents  thus  transmitted; 
and  the  result  of  his  investigations  was  to  show,  that  in 
submarine  telegraphs  the  wires  act  as  reservoirs,  and  not 
as  mere  channels,— that  the  larger  reservoir  receives  and 
holds  a  larger  quantity  than  the  smaller  one,  and  that  this 
naturally  produces  the  most  powerful  eifects  when  allowed 
to  escape  from  its  imprisonment.    By  1855,  the  scientific 
corps  provided  themselves  with  muc^  more  con-.lete 
and  perfect  instruments  for  pursuing  these  inquiries,^  and 
the  construction  of  new  Telegraph  lines  also  furnished 
them  with  better  opportunities  of  making  thei:   .-xperi- 
.nents.     It  was  soon  found  that  a  magneto-electrical  cur- 
rent took  a  second  and  a  half  to  discharge  itself,  when  it 
moved  through  1,146  miles  of  wire,  m  consequence  of 

tne  rctardimr  now.  .  of  ^nr^no+,•r^„  ;«  *i,; x  .  ^   -, 

dium.     This  was  a  rate  of  speed  not  at  all  compatible 


■■-rt 


76      Cable— Construction  and  Experiments. 

;vitli  any  profitable  employment  of  a  Transatlantic  Tele- 
gra])h  f.r  comniorcial  i)urpo.se.s,- and  the  next  step  was 
to  devise  some  remedy  for  this  iiuhietive  obstacle.      The 
in-st  tliing  done  was  to  send  dilFerent  kinds  of  eh>etricity 
aion<.  the  wire  in  succession,  in  the  hope  that  eacli  trans- 
in.s:sion  of  one  kind  would  clear  away  the  residue  of  the 
other  which  h.Hl  immediately  precede<l  it.      The  result 
vas  a  complete  succe.ss.     Although  the  s.'une  wire,  and 
tiic  same  magneto-electric  combination  were  rmj.h.yed 
Avhich  had  before  demande-l  a  second  and  a  half  for\he 
completion  of  a  single  disc.harge,  seven  and  eight  cur- 
ivnt.s  now  readily  recnlcd  themselves  in  a  single  second 
>V  hen  positive  f .llowed  negatuv,  and  negative  fallowed 
positive,   in   exactly  equal    proportions,    the    electrical 
^■M'"!.bnum  of  the  wire  was  continually  restored  as  fast 
n-s  It  was  disturl,ed-eac-h  current  chining  awav  the  in. 
<l"clive  mduence  which  the  other  ha.l  left  behind  it.     Jt 
w.'Lsprove.!,  moreover,  in  the  course  of  these  exj.eriments, 
that  su,.essive  charges  of  ehvtric-al  influen<.c,-eith(.r  of 
the  sa.ue  kin.l,  or  of  alternate  oj>posite  ki,n!s,-m,v  be 
travelling  along  length.ned  c<.n<l„cting  wires  sanultane- 
-sly,  the  one  following  the  oth.«r,  l.ke  sueeessive  waves 
"!-n  the  sea.      Allen.ate   posU.ve  an.I   negative  si.^-als 
^v.'-v  sent   ah.ng!..lOnules   .^f  wire,  .r  the-  rate  ..f  ei-ht 
signals  n.ea<.h  see.. n,l.  -  .n.Ji  uo  signals  aniv  e.Jat  t  he  einl 
-"I'own-e  ale  r  the  acts  of  tn,.,H,„ssion  ha.l  l.ee,Ml,s..on 
'"'""'•      '"   '"'^^thci    .■xj.Mni.r,..  I.S   ,he  use  of  a   u.re, 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      77 


1,020  miles  long,  three  signals  of  a  single-stroke  bell  were 
distinctly  heard  after  the  movement  of  the  hand  which 
originated  the  current  had  ceased.  This,  therefore, 
indicated  a  way  in  which  the  rapidity  of  transmitting 
ek'ctrical  currents  along  a  submarine  wire  could  be  in- 
creased ,  it  was  necessary  only  to  employ  opposite  kinds, 
— positive  and  n(  :;ative  alternately. 

Tlie  next  point  to  be  investigated  was  the  ratio  in  which 
increase  of  distance  in  a  gutta-percha  covered  telegraph 
wire  augments  tlie  difficulties  of  rapid  transmission.  It 
had  been  supposed  that  the  available  force  was  diminished 
in  the  ratio  of  the  stpiare  of  tlio  distance  travers<Hl, — that 
is,  that  a  current  whieli  has  traversed  600  miles  has  only 
a  thirty-sixth  j)art  of  the  working  force  of  a  prccisv'ly 
similar  current  which  has  travelled  only  100  miles.  In 
experimenting  upon  tliis  ])i)liit  they  liad  to  consider: 
Firsi — th(^  diminution  of  tlie  current's  power  10  j)roduce 
mechanical  eluN-l-];  ami,  Second — its  loss  of  speed.  A 
voltaic  balt(>ry  of  72  pairs  of  jilatcs,  each  with  a  surface 
of  1()  iiicliis,  was  set  to  work,  ami  it  was  ascertained  how 
many  grains  the  currrnt  would  rais(>  upon  IxMug  trans- 
mitted through  a  wire  just  long  enough  to  effect  the  con- 
nexi>u.  The  numhrr  of  grains  lifted  was  20,000.  'i'lio 
cxperii:i  Mil  being  rej)e;iteil  with  the  sanii' current  thm  ; 
2' If)  mill's  ol'  wire,  tlie  nunilier  of  grains  lil't.d  w;is  Id.d.'n  ■  ; 
with  40<)  niihr.  of  wire  it  was  ;i,2">0;  and  with  (KX)  niili  s 
it  w  IS  l,i(M).     Clearly  the  loss  of  meehaniea!  jiower  in 


78     Cable-Construction  and  Experiments. 

been  supposed,    I„  „g„j  ^  ,„^  „, 
housand  observations  were  made,  with  wire^  var.L  „ 
engt    from  83  to  ,  .020  „i,es,  to  dete™i„e  it.  ratfo  ■  I  I 
from  the.  a  appeared  that  with  a  wire  83  miles  long" 

m.les  m  .14  of  a  second;  with  249  „,i|es  in  .36  of  a 

than  h.ad  been  supposed.     The  result  of  the  experiments 
w^sto  establish,  w,th  tolerable  aceuraey,  the  fact  that  the 
v.loc,ty  of   n,ovemcnt  of  a   m.^gneto-electrio   current 
through  a  gutta-percha  cov  ored  wi  e,  is  300  miles  in  frcn' 

one-twelfrh  to  one..si.x.een.hofa  second;  ,100  n.ilesi" 
f-„onc.s,.xM,toon,...mn.hofaSK.ond;and«oOmi,: 
."fr„mo„e..mhtoone.four.hofas,.eond.  S.,li  further 
exper„„eu,.s  p.oved  that  a  rate  of  tran..,„issi„u  eould  bo 

«l>ta,ned  by  the  e,„p,,,vm,.nl  of  n,a.,„.,...,.l.vtriecur..nu 
0-™,twoa„da,,a,f,o,hree,i,„es.sgroatas,hatof:y 
-n,cvol,a,ein.puU.  which  ean  be  used.    Thenu.xin,u,n 

speed  a„.a„,ed  byvohaic  elee,n,.,,v  was  1. sou  m.les  per 
«'-'Md;  the  n.aximuM,  i;,r  ,1k.  ,„agne,n.,.|ee,r,c  curr  „t 

""'"'" '■^"' -™^-'"- ^M u.piove,,.  .,\„:I 

;'  "■';,  ^''r '-''"' '  "'■"  '•■"- ■• I  u.res,  „.„, 

."■'"""',"":  ^'''""^  "^  ' ■.h,an.w„rs ,„„,„,_„ 

lar  ,us  velocy  of  transnu..siou  ,s  coneerued,  than  .,;,n 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      79 

ones ;  and  it  was  this  which  led  to  the  adoption  of  the 
small-sized  copper  wire  which  was  finally  decided  on  as 
the  conductor  by  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company. 

After  these  . -^ints  had  been  established  by  experiment 
— rendering  it  theoretically  probable  that  there  would  be 
no  difficulty  in  using  a  wire,  if  it  could  once  be  laid  down 
across  the  Atlantic — *he  next  point  Wiis  actually  to  reco-  d 
a  signal  by  a  current  sent  through  a  circuit  of  2,000  miles. 
For  this  purpose,  in  1856,  the  various  lines  of  Telegra})h 
under  charge  of  the  English  and  Ir! jh  Magnetic  Telegraph 
Company  were  used,  and  they  are  so  extc.isive,  have  so 
many  ramifications,  and  <  aoh  line  contains  so  many  sejia- 
rate  wires,  that  a  continuous  length  of  nearly  5,000  miles 
could  be  made  up  among  them.  The  experiments  were 
made  with  great  care,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr, 
BinoiiT,  the  P]ngincer;  and  Mr,  Whiteiiousi..  subse 
quently  the  Elc'trician  of  the  Company,  On  the  9th  of 
October,  l6.>(),  ten  gu  a-percha  covered  wires,  each 
fneasuring  over  20C  miles,  were  connected,  so  that  a 
continuous  circuit  was  formed  of  above  2,000  miles,  and 
signals  were  distinctly  and  satisfactorily  ti'legrnjdied 
througli  the  wliole  n-ngth,  at  the  rale  of  210,  241,  ami, 
upon  one  ocea-si'-^'i.  2,0  per  minute,  ^  iperimcnt  having 
shown  that  1  conditions  present  in  insuhilrd  wiics 
j)laet'd  Uhtlui  the  ground  and  bi'iieath  the  sea  are  strictlv 
n"aK'gous,  ihi    icsult  wa.s  regarded  as  estabhshing,  beyond 


80     Cable-Construction  and  Experiments. 

all  reasonable  doubt,  the  practicability  of  working  the 
Transatlantic  Telegrapl,. 
The  Company  was  therefore  indebted  to  Mr  White 

-tab  .bed  certam  ™portant  faets.     (i.neral  results  n,ay 

be  in.beated  .n  a  few  wonls-viz : 

That  gutta-pereha  eovere.l  subn.arine  wires  do  not 
transnnt  as  sin.ple  insulated  conductors,  but  that  they 
have  .0  be  charged  ,as  L.ydcn  ja,.,  before  they  e-.n 
transmit  at  all.  ^      '" 

That  consequently,  such  wires  transn.it  with  a  velo- 

t-uy  mat  is  m  no  way  acronlinf  t,<  <i  ^ 

y  .itconiant  to  the  Jnovement  of  the 

olee  neal  current  .n  an  uncn.barra,-se.l  way  along  simple 

conductors.  *=  ai"if)ic 

That  magneto-eleetric  enrn-nts  tr.cd  „„,„  quieklv 
"long  such  w,res  than  sin.p,..  volume  currents 

Ihat  n,ag„eto.elee,rie  currents  travel  more  quieklv 
wh..nn,l.,ghencrgy,|,„„,,,„.„i„,        ,  1        .^ 

""',".'  '^"■-''  ""^■'«i'>'  ''"  "ot  travel  m„.e  quickly 
than  vollaic  currents  of  small  intensity  ^ 

Th^.t  the  vel..i,yf,,,etransmi.ss,,;n  of  sig,,,a,s  along 
">..!.,   .d  ..dnncrgcd  w,r,.s  can  be  enorn.onslv  inen...,! 

;;™;^-^■H.-ed.o^,ne  in, wo  .,,,,,, -,,,,,,,; 

«»'-l>u.h.e.,rrc„tofd,n;,,„,„  ,,,„,,.„ 

'";;  "(WU.ve,  and  negative  n,ilo«.in.- p,.„ive 

"'^"'■■- '""'inntion  of  the  veloc-hy  or,l,e  ,ran.„is.„„ 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      81 

of  tlic  magneto-electric  current  in  induction-embarrassed 
coated  wires,  is  not  in  the  inverse  ratio  of  the  squares  of 
the  distance  traversed,  but  much  more  nearly  iv  the  ratio 
of  simple  arithmetical  progression. 

That  several  distinct  waves  of  electricity  may  be  travel- 
ling along  different  parts  of  a  long  wire  simultaneously, 
and  within  certain  limits,  w^ithout  interference. 

That  large  coated  wdres  used  beneath  the  water  or  the 
earth  arc  worse  conductors,  so  far  as  velocity  of  trans- 
mission is  concerned,  than  smidl  ones,  and  therefore  are 
not  so  well  suited  as  small  ones  for  the  purposes  of  sub- 
marine transmission  of  telegraphic  signals;  and 

That  by  the  use  of  comparatively  small  coated  wires, 
and  of  electro-magnetic  induction-coils  for  the  exciting 
agents,  telegraphic  signals  can  be  transmitted  through 
two  thousand  miles  with  a  speed  amply  suilicient  for  all 
commercial  and  ei'onomical  purposes. 

About  the  Tine  that  the  maiiufocture  of  the  Cable  was 

com])lt'ted,  tlie  London  Tinu\s  rather  startltMl  its  readers 

by  the  announcement  that  tlie  enterprise  nmst  necessarily 

l>r(jve  a  failure.     "  It  will  scarcely  be  credited,"  said  that 

jounial,  "  but  it  is  nevertlieless  true,  that  the  twist  of  tlie 

spiral  wires  of  the  liirkenliead  half  of  tlie  Cable  is  in 

exactly  the  opj)osite  direction  t^)  the  twist  of  the  wires 

made  at  CireiMiwieh.     TIius,  when  joincMl  in  tlieeentn^  of 

tlie  Atlantic,  ;Iiey  will  form  a  right  and  a  left-hand  senw, 

and  the  tendency  of  each  will  be  to  assist  each  other  to 

4* 


Sz     C='bIe-Constrnct,„n  and  Experiments 
coal  tbarll  i-e    "°T'  '"'  """"^  ''"<""P'  '°  -- 

"..  .1..T  „,,"?,,  "r"""-  ""°— 

'->"i'ci\ihion  ot  the  encinepr  of  fl.o  n 
t  ma,  not  bo  un„Uo,....sti,.«  to  give  „  g.,„„  ,,,,„,, 
'J-M.g   he  progress  „f  ,i„.  ,i.,,t  Kxpcli.i,,,,,  .„  „..  ,„„, 

-•^    .rov...l  s,,  ,„..,,,,,,,„,,,,,,  ,,,,,,^^,, 
J  our  casHn,,,  .sbeave.,  or  evli,„ler,,  about  fi^'e  feet  in 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      83 

diameter,  were  ranged  in  line  witli  one  anotliei ,  fore  and 
aft.  The  first,  commencing  forward,  was  single-grooved ; 
the  second  and  third  were  double-grooved,  and  the  fourth 
was  single-grooved.  The  Cable,  as  it  came  up  from  the 
hold  of  the  ship,  passed  over  one  of  the  grooves  in  the 
second  drum, — then  under  it  backwards  and  over  and 
around  the  nrst  single  drum, — thence  it  returned  over 
the  remoining  groove  in  the  second, — then  it  went 
directly  across  10  one  groove  in  the  third,  following  but 
a  small  arc  in  its  periphery,— thence  to  the  last  single 
drum,  and  downward  around  this,  back  to  the  preceding 
double  one,  and,  finally,  over  the  unoccupied  groove  in 
that  to  a  fifOi  grooved  drum  standing  out  upon  rigid 
arms  the  stern,  from  which  it  was  dropped  into  the 

sea.  The  g.<->oves  in  all  these  drums  were  exactly 
adapted,  in  si/e  and  form,  to  the  Cable.  The  passing 
and  repassing  of  the  Cable  over  them  served  to  afford 
friction-service  for  controlling  the  velocity  of  the  r.ope 
in  passing  out.  But  additional  checks  for  tiiis  purpose 
were  provided.  The  four  drums  were  so  connected  by 
gearing  that  their  motions  were  exactly  coincident — the 
motion  of  any  one  oi  them  involving  corresponding 
motion  in  all  the  r.st.  Upon  two  of  the  shafts,  more- 
over, friction-brakos — the  same  in  j)rin(Mple  as  tlioso 
used  upon  railroads — wire  applied,  to  control  tlu^  velocity 
of  tlie  drums;  and  to  those,  which  were  worked  by  a 
screw,  was  attaclird  u  balaiico,  which  was  to  inaicnto  tuc 


84      Cable-Construc-on  and  Experi.n.nts. 

precise  amount  of  strain  tLron-u  upon  th,^  r,I,,      . 

-mont.     The  see.  ..  worked';    trr.,:! 

-  stationed  an  offieer  whose  dut,  it  was  to  'J  tcl 

bajnee  and  regulate  the  friction  of  the  brakes  accor^inl  / 
Ihe  shipment  of  the  Cable  speedily  followed  the 
completion.     The  portion  received  h.  ,f    a 
-nufactured  b,  /e...  N.^r.^ ':  JX:; - 

ntX?y'"^'"^^^-™''''«-^--.'-^^^ 

of  Meirrrcr.t-^  "r  '^^  ^-"-^ 

lon.4h  nfr  n  ^^"°".  0'  Greenwich.     The  total 

m  f   In  0         r™"'^-""""  --  '-"'-V-six  hundred 
wh5;  the  ct     *"  "f  """"  '''  "-  ™»™-  coils  in 

•  ■"oia   01   that  vessel  was  eleare.l    nP  +i        i    •    , 

o-.ni  T      1  LiL.irea   oi    the   cliain-Iockers! 

uM.unke.  and  tanL,  and  fitted  .it.  a  level  floorove; 
the  kelson,  the  beams  havij^.  eaeh  bo.n   f  . 

double   st^v^   f^  ^''"^''^'-'^  with 

u'>it   stajs   to   com])ensate   for   the   romov.l      p   .i 

-■tanchions.     I'art  of  the  Cable  was  airi'.  Z- ''" 
^Pncewhichhadbcenclearedonto,.      .,';'/' 
«b^Ul.ecn,i„e.roon,b,diHp,aei,,,  ,.„,.;  /:„^:^^^^ 
'«■'"'»  ""J  oiieroa,.|,i„„  „„  ,|,e  „.,,,!  r     ,        „ 

'In' part  taken  on  b<nrd  t]„>  v  " 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      85 

The  operation  of  shipping  the  Cable  was  begun  in 
June  and  completed  in  the  early  part  of  July,  1857. 
The  event  was  celebrated  in  England  with  high  festivity 
and  rejoicing.  A  fete  champetre  was  given  on  the  23d 
of  July,  at  Belvidere  House,  by  Sir  Culling  Eardley; 
an  immense  marquee  pitched  upon  the  lawn  in  front  of 
the  mansion,  affording  accommodation  for  some  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  invited  guests,  among  whom  were 
many  distinguished  gentlemen,  both  English  and  Ameri- 
can. The  unvarying  success  of  the  enterprise,  thus  far, 
inspired  strong  hope,  and  the  greetings  interchanged  on 
the  occasion  of  this  festivity  were  enthusiastic  and 
cordial  to  a  degree. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1857,  the  Niagara  and  Aga- 
memnon sailed  for  Queenstown,  Ireland,  the  appointed 
place  of  rendezvous.  During  this  voyage,  various  suc- 
cessful experiments  were  made.  On  board  the  Aga- 
memnon, the  mechanical  appliances  for  regulating  the 
delivery  of  the  Cable  into  the  s.a  were  kept  continually 
in  motion  by  the  small  engine  ua  board,  which  was  con- 
nected with  them,  and  the  wltole  worked  with  great  ])re- 
cision  and  facility.  The  ex].eriments  th(>n  made  bv  the 
.•l/yawew??o/iJustilied  hopes  of  ulthnate  triiim])h.  A  13- 
ineh  shell  was  attached  to  the  end  of  a  sjiare  coil  of  the 
(.'al.le,  for  th(>  ])urjiose  of  sinking  it  rapidly,  and  was 
tli'Mi  c'lst  int'>  {\\v  sea.  drawing  iiltrr  It  a  suflieicnt  (jiian- 
tity  of  slack  to  enable  it  to  tak(>  hold  of  the  ground  and 


86 


Cable-Constructfon  and  Experiments. 


so  set  the  machinery  in  motion      Th^ 

fenced  at  the  rate  of  t„o  C  J^f  'T'  "'  """■ 

^-aa.o„,t:eL:::;~;:rcf"- 

coating  of  tar  hn<^  h  .    "terprise.     The  exterior 

^  oi  tar  iiad  been  completely  rubbed  oif  h^  y.  • 

drawn  through  the  s.nri,.  K  ..         7  "^  ^^'°S 

ugu  tne  sandy  bottom  of  the  sea      n«  ^i 

day  after  this  experiment,  a  length  of  Q^',  ' 

opposite  the  Isle  of  wd,  .  T      V         ""^  ""■  ''"' 
feet  ea.e-.be  led  1 1  T    "'"^  "  "'"  P"" 

to  five  tnot.  t: , :  rr  ™f '""  "■-^^'^ 

run  out  and  hauled  in  wh  le  ^^  T     "'  "'^"^  "" 
six  and  a  half  knots     The  V     "       ""^  ""^'^^^<1  '^ 

Cork,   whe.   he:"«  t'l^""'"^"'""""' 
arrived.  '     ^'   ^"'^''™'   !'»<»  alreadj 

terTf'!!!!;'  ^"""""'°"  ""'  '''^''™  '■■'y  '"»"*  a  quar. 
ter  01  a  mile  apart  in  the  Cove  of  Cork  tl,„-    t  , 

Cable,  were  passed  to  each  other  l';"  T""""'' 

;--the.:::ri:!rdi:ei;rrr 

tery,  an  eleetrical  current  was  lund  to  '  "'" 

ately,  though  at  first  slowly-  atone       ^       '""""''• 

the  question  of  tr,„      •  '  P'"*'"^  «'  fe't 

^  ""'"'  o'  transmission  throueh  si.nl,  „  i 

-e.T.3  demonstration  was  th^;:::S:^- 


! 


Cable— Construction  and  Experiments.      87 

from  the  fact  that  the  force  developed  lifted  twenty-five 
grains    on    Dr.    Whitehouse's    galvano-electrometer, 
when  three  grains  had  been  found  to  indicate  sufficient 
power  to  record  intelligible  signals.     There  was  no  time 
that  night,   however,   to  attach  the  recording  instru- 
ments ;  and  when  the  Agamemnon  swung  at  her  moor- 
ings, she  unluckily  fouled  the  wire  and  broke  the  con- 
nexion.    The  whole  of  the  next  day  was  spent  in  reco- 
vering and  re-uniting  the  Cable-ends ;  but,  in  the  mean- 
time, the  Agamemnon  sent  aboard  a  large  iron  buoy, 
and  several  wooden  ones,  to  be  used,  in  case  of  necessity, 
for  securing  the  Cable  in  soundings.     On  Saturday,  Au- 
gust 1,  connexion  was  re-established  between  the  ends, 
and  each  of  them  connected  with  the  earth,  as  in  lines 
actually  laid  out.     A  distinct  message  was  then  immedi- 
at€ly  telegraphed  through  the  whole    cope  of  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  miles  ^'' Land  in  6ighi :  alVsweir— 
w^ere  the  first  memorable  words.     In  this  experiment 
one  current  occupied,  in  its  passage,  an  interval  of  one 
second  and  three-quarters ;  bui  three  successive  signals, 
each    perfectly   intelligible,   could    be    passed   through 
twenty-five  hundred  miles  in  two  seconds ;  thus  confirm- 
ing observations  made  on  shorter  circuits,  by  which  it 
appeared  that  one  ware  may,  at  the  same  instant,  be 
engaged  in  conveying  several  distinct  electrical  waves, 
with  well-marked  intervals  between  them. 
It  had  been  at  first  decided  by  the  Directors  of  the 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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i  iiUlUj^^tipiiiL 

Sciences 
Corporation 


73  WfST  MAIf4  STRUT 

WItSTIR  N  Y    I4JI0 

!  Tl«)  •77.4»(,3 


:<,N^ 


^v 


^v 


:\ 


\ 


.\ 


if 


k 


88 


Cable-Comtruction  and  Experiments. 


some  strong  opposition  m  tlie  Board      T, 
was  „„,v  determined  that  the  JV'Vam  should 

%in.do.„.eCa.erromthe'';:rr:~ 

i  t;  ft  ^ ''""""'"'"'''  '^  ^"  *^  ^-^'^  oTi 

ncct,  and  that  upon  re:.ching  mid-ocein  tho  A 

:r:hf:::"t'°'^^'"^'^"^-~ 

pjt-ie  ine  connexion  by  nrocopfh'no-  +^  +1 

foundland       \  Proceeding  to  tie  coast  of  New- 

be  a«  lost  in  event  o^an    e   al?  ??  f  T"  """ 
tended   «k  .  V      ■  "'■'-lacnt.    It  was  furtlior  con- 

tended that  by  this  plan  (here  would  be  m„el,  . 
ve.ght  of  Cable  to  be  sustained  .t  „  "" 

'"e  vessels  of  the  «eet  wo^d  t  ,^~;- ,  '^™ 

eaeh  other  aid  in  an.v  eme^eno,,  Ldlwr^  ^ 
WJLS  be]  evofl   pnni,!  1^  .  worK,  so  It 

Mas  than  bv  ,1  ""'"'  ^"''toorily  p..rf„™,<,  ^ 

•i.is  than  by  the  „iid-,K>ean  arrangement.  ^ 

The  seientific  arrangement,  o„  Wrd  both  vessel,  wer. 

I-  -tl.  the  frigates,  a  eoneerted  plan  „f  «;,,„„,,,  „,,  °\ 

<-il,  in  ord.T  to  te.st  Ihu  eflivt  ,.r  ,1       .        •  PW'Vid. 

the  C,;,!,.  I     •  '""'^""-"'''"^f'eenm.ntupon 

th     (.,..e,l,„.H,.ev,.ly...,p.,f„„.„,„,;^,       These  W,| . 

.n..u.at.,t„„ebys,eond,,,andw,..pa.^.dt,.:;;r;i:': 


1 


i 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      89 

whole  extent  of  the  wire.     At  the  side  of  tlie  Niagara 
and  Agamemnon,  patent-logs  were  placed,  which  dipped 
into  the  sea,  and  were  fitted  with  vanes  and  wheels,  the 
latter  turning  with  a  degree  of  velocity  exactly  prcpor- 
tioned   to  the  rate  at  whicli  the  vessel  dragged  them 
tlirough  the  water.     One  of  these   wheels   was  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  make  and  break  an  electric  circuit  at  every 
revolution,  and  record  upon  the  deck  of  the  ship,  by 
apparatus  provided  for  the  purpose,  the  speed  of  the 
vessel.     A  bell  also  sounded  upon  every  passage  of  tlic 
electric   current  through   the   Cable.      The   brakeman, 
therefore,  watched  the  balance  which  indicated  the  strain 
upon  the  Cable,  and  tightened  or  relaxed  it  as  occasion 
required.     He  was  also  to  listen  for  the  bell,  and  if  at 
any  time  its  sound  ceased — indicating  an  interruption  in 
the  circuit — he  was  to  stc^p  the  machinery,  the  vessel 
would  be  backed,  and  a  winding  machine,  provided  Tor 
the  purpose,  and  worked  by  a  horizontal  steam-engirn^ 
of  about  20  horse  power,  would  be  at  once  set  at  work, 
gathering  up  the  slack-rope  as  the  vesst^l  moved  asteni — 
the  electrician  all  the  while  testing  the  insulating  con- 
tinuity of  the  Cable,  yard  by  yard,  until  the  defective 
])ortion  had  been  discovered.     This  would  then  be  cut 
out  and  the  gap  Gup[)lied  by  joining  up  the  ends  of  the 
uninjured  part.s,  when  the  ]>aying-out  and  testing  would 
be  resumed  as  at  the  first. 

Special  provision,  too,  was  made  for  storms.     In  ordi- 


I  ■  i 


.p     Ca!,l.-Constructi.m  and  Ex,.rrin,c„ts. 

z, ::"":"'  "\ """  "■' -^  -'-•«  ^ind^  dthor 


nli«<it(i 


or  iwtoni,  tl.o  work  oouM 


t""i,  <U4  tho  nu)ti( 


>n  Would  ?jot  I 


K*>  on  without 


w  so 


<'«''   inm^liiiuTv    from 

<^"»»lo.     Hutiftho  wimi  HhouM  1 


ri'Uuniiiir 


lis  (<» 


'»ako  it  iKHM'SHary  for  tl 


<•»«'  wind.  UM  upparutus 


iiitorrup- 
RTout  fts  to  }»n'vont 
"K  '^i»m|)lou»  control  of  the 
>low  iwti'rn  8o  luuivily 
'0  vt>as.«l  to  come  up  lica<i  to 


Iho  I) 


W.W  pn>pHrtHl  for  paying  out 


»v,  Hirnilnr  to  that  alrni.lv  dosrHUnJ 


i)vor 


H  tVKular  ^alo  whou!,! 


And 


Hi  case 


ai 


Jinp-.K-wihJo   (or  tl 


"**'•  «^>c.nK  rni)ugh  to  rend 


^  ahlo  at  all 


«o  vossol  «,ilMv   to 


or  it 


Ion 


.  pn-parations  wciv  nimlo  1 


r^'t^iin   Ijold  of  tl 


!jo 


l>o'-'nlv.      IV>"  thodtvlc  stood 


wound  ix.und  will 


lor  abandoning  it 
two  largt»  nvls,  oaoh 


P'^^^'hI  of  i,x,n  win'  onlv.  and 


>  »  v.Mv  sti\>ng  auxiliary  oaM 


li\  o»Mn- 


of  ti'u  or  t 
niil 


w«   vo  tons,     or  this  tl 


oapahlc  of  n»sisUng  a 


strain 


HMld 


•^•'.•nxia  halfonoarh  n^>l.     I 


u'n»  wcn^  ttlH-.ut  tw 


o 


»TI 


•«g  UiVimirv  the  al>and 


"  oiu^i'ofa  hoavv  stA)nn 


wouM  Ik'  out,  and  tl 


U>  S<' 


o'uuont  of  th,.  Cablo.    it 


of  tl 


>  <''«d  attaohod  to  tho  end  of 
wouiul  ujH>n  the  nvl.     Tl 


one 


us 


><^•'e  stn.ng  iron  ^h>^i 

'';"™^": '•'■••"-« '• -1.0  «m..vi.,  ,,.„;. 

:,  7^;"""' , "-■-  ""•  •-.  or  .,.,„  .>M  „.o,u; 

■'"■.  '-1  ..-  un,.,,.,,.,  ,,,,,,,  ,,      ko  ,W  ,„i„,,,   , 

"     •  ,'"  '■*"'>  ■•^^•"'  «l'"'.  «-.M  Iv  ..v^xl  ovcrlHvmi 


Cable — Construction  and  Experiments.      91 

sii]).si(li>,  when  tliey  wmild  again  be  picked  up,  the  Cable 
ivcovert'tl  and  rejoined  to  the  part  remaining  upon  the 
.sliij>,  and  the  work  proceed  as  before. 

Such  were  the  preparations  and  precautions  made  in 
t...' year  1857,  for  paying  out  the  Atlantic  Cable;  and 
eomph'te  and  perfect  as  they  were  then  thought  to  be, 
yet  were  they  insufficient  to  insure  success. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE  FIRST  EiPKI.ITION_£UMMER  OP  1857. 

^HE  first  attempt  to  lay  the  Atlantic  Cable  waa  made 
^     ear  y  >„  the  month  of  August,  1857.    A  period 
uf  less  t,.an  thirty  days  suiEced  for  the  completion  of 
the  final  arrangements  for  this  Expedition,  the  festivities 
n.^de„t  to  the  occasion,  the  departure  of  the  fleet  frol 
^alontm,  the  tnal,  the  defeat,  and  the  return     At  6 
.••H.  on  Tuesd.ay    August  4,  the  Telegraph  Squadron 
i  ft  Queenstoun  Harbor  for  Valentia  Bay.    It  arrived 
at  Valenfa  on  the  day  following.    The  fleet  detailed  for 

flTr"  "'  f  r""™  ^''^'^'••"'  "'    ■»"•"  vessels, 
lou.  American  and  four  English,  as  follows  :_ 

1.  The   us.   ....m-frigate  A1V^„,.„,   c»pui„   Hcn^,,   ,„  ,,„ 
tl,e  half  of  the  Coble  from  Ireland.  ^ 

2   Th.  U.S.  ,t..,.rH^,.„  ,,„^„^,„„,„^^  ^__^^,^.  ^  ^^^        ^^ 
upon  tiie  Aiiigara. 

3.  Tlie  U.S.  steamer  Arrtir,  Oap.ain  Bkrhtmak,  to  make  further 
«otmdmffs  on  the  coast  of  Newfoundland. 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.        93 

4.  The  U.S.  steamer  Victoria,  Captain  Slutter,  to  assist  in  land- 
in  2r  the  Cable  at  Newfoundland. 

5.  H.M.  steamer  Agarnemnon,  Captain  Noddal,  to  lay  the  half  of 
the  Cable  on  the  American  side. 

G.  H.M.  steamer  Leopard,  Captain  Wainwright,  to  attend  upon 
the  Agamemnon, 

7.  H.M.  steamer  Cyclops,  Captain  Dayman,  to  go  ahead  of  the 
steamers  and  keep  the  course. 

8.  H.M.  steamer  Advice,  Captain  Raymond,  to  assist  in  landing 
tlie  Cable  at  Valentia. 

The  presence  on  tlie  Island  of  the  representative  of 
Royalty  in  Ireland  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
popular  idea  of  the  importance  of  the  occasion  ,  and  the 
idea  found  development  in  bonfires,  pyrotechnic  displays, 
music,  feasting,  dancing,  and  cheering,  and  the  charac- 
teristic attributes  of  an  Irish  merry-making. 

Ills  Excellency,  the  Lord  Lieutenant  (the  Earl  of 
Carlisle),  attended  by  his  suite,  and  accompanied  by 
Sir  Edward  M'Donnell,  Chairman  of  the  Great 
Southern  and  Western  Railway,  several  of  the  Directors 
of  the  Company,  and  Mr.  G.  E.  Ilbery,  the  courteous 
and  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  line,  proceeded  by 
special  train  on  Monday  morning  to  Killarney.  The 
Vice-regal  party  vvere  received  at  the  King's  Bridge 
Station  by  ^Ir.  Ilbeiiy,  and  conducted  to  the  state 
carriage.  An  elegant  (icjeuiirr  had  been  ])rovid('d  at 
Valentia    by    the    Knight    of    Kerry;    the    festivities 


94       First  Expedition-Summer  of  18^7. 

ot  the  place.    Th«  storehouse  wa.:  handsomely  dcc„. 
rated  for  the  ocoasinn     xt  ,  •' 

takpn  f         r^  P"''"^ '''"'  ='^'°^  of  date 

taken  from  the  extensive  quarries  in  the  vicinity  and 
the  tables  at  which  the  Company  sat  were  formed  o^   h 
ri  "^'^"f     ^"^  >=anquetrng.oom  was  draped  wh 

TTt;,  '^^'  *^'  ^"-^  °^  "'^  Irish  Welcome 

«-^  i^««=  FuMa,  we,,  prominently  displayed  Tnd 

thTun^  :t  "'  ''^  ''™^"  ^"«  iced'th^fla^: 
t:^.  '^ZTtrH  ^--^^^^^o.,  wit^h  the 
,       ana      ^r,  b.    suspended  below  in  hand- 
some wreaths.     The  KnVI,*  „«■  ir 

banouet  »„^  ^^  ^""7  P'^^^'J^'l  "'  the 

banque^  and  gave  a  toast  in  honor  of  the  Queen,  which 

havng  been  duly  honored,  the  Chairman  again  r;srand 
proposed  the  health  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant  anlp  :s 
pentj  to  Ireland.  ^ 

eloqul!nd""''  "  ""'"'"''"^'  "»''«  "'<=  ^°"-ing 
eloquent  and  appropriate  remarks :— 

holo  ^^^  "'.'*"'™  ^°"  "'^  ""^'  ''^""^  "'"■■k'  for  the 
Lai     Th  r  '""  "^  '"  ^  ■'■"^'^   0-king  my 

hmted,  that  I  am  probably  .he  fi,.t  Lieutenant  of  J 

^:::z  it'  "■"-  ""^  '°-'^  ^'-''-  ^' 

jou  on  an  oeca„on  I.ke  the  present.    Amidst  all  tTe 
pnde  and  the  stirring  hopes  which  c„«ter  around  tt 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.       95 

work  of  this  week,  we  ought  still  to  remember  that  we 
must  speak  with  the  modesty  of  those  who  begin  and  not 
of  those  who  close  an  experiment;  and  it  behoves  us 
to  remember  that  the  pathway  to  great  achievements  has 
frequently  to  be  hev^n  out  amid<?t  risks  atiJ  difficulties, 
and  that  preliminary  foilure  is  even  the  law  and  condi- 
tion of  the  ultimate  success.     Therefore,  whatever  disap- 
pointments may  possibly  be  in  store,  I  Tiust  yet  insinuate 
to  you  that  in  a  cause  like  this  it  would  be  criminal  to 
feel  discouragement.     In  the  very  design  and  endeavor 
to  establish  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  there  is  almost  enough 
01  glory.    It  is  true  if  it  only  be  an  attempt  there  would 
not  be  quite  enough  of  profit.     I  hope  that  will  come, 
too ;  but  there  is  enough  of  public  spirit,  of  love  for 
science,  for  our  country,  for  the  human  race,  almost  to 
suffice  in  themselves.     However,  upon  the  rocky  frontlet 
of  Ireland,  at  all  events,  to-day  we  will  presume  upon 
success.     We  are  about,  either  by  ti.^  sundown  or  by 
to-morrow's  dawn,    to    establish    a    new  material  link 
between  the  Old  World  and  the  New.     Moral  links 
there  have  been— links  of  race,  links  of  commerce,  links 
of  friendship,  links  of  literature,  links  of  glory ;  but  this, 
our  new  link,  instead  of  superseding  and  supplanting  the 
old  ones,  is  to  give  a  life  and  intensity  they  never  liad 
before.     Highly  as  I  value  the  reputations  of  those  who 
have   conceived,    and  those   who   have   contributed   to 
carry  out  this  bright  design— and  I  wish  thot  so  many 


I 


Ill 


96       First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 

of  them  had  not  been  unavoidably  prevented  from  bein., 
amongst  ua  at  this  moment-highly  as  I  estimate  their 
reputation,  jet  I  do  not  compliment  them  with  the  idea 
that  thej  are  to  efface  ord,m  the  glory  of  that  Columbus 
who,  when  the  large  vessels   in   the  harbor  of  Cork 
yesterday  .-eighed- their  a„cho,s,  did  so  on  that  ve^ 
day  365  years  ago_it  would  have  been  called  in  He- 
orew  writ  a  year  of  years-and  set  sail  upon  his  glorious 
enterprise  of  discovery.     They,  I  say,  wiU  not  dim  or 
efface  h,s  glory,  but  they  are  now  giving  the  last  finish 
and  consumma^n  to  his  work.    Hitherto  the  inhabitants 
of  the  .™  worlds  have  associated  perhaps  in  the  chilling 
.mospherc  of  distance  with  each  other-asort  of  bowinf 
d.=.tance;    but  now  we  can  be  hand  to  hand,  grasp  t^ 
grasp,  pulse  to  pulse.     The  link  which  is  nol  to  L- 

nect  us,  hke  the  insect  in  the  immortal,  couplet  of  our 
poet ;  r  v«t 


While  exquisitely  fine 

Feels  at  each  thread  and  moves  along  the  Une. 

And  we  may  feel,  gentlemen  of  Ireland,  of  England,  and 
of  Amcnca,  who  may  happen  to  be  present,  that  we  may 
take  our  stand  here  upon  the  extreme  rocky  edge  of  our 
beloved  Ireland ;  we  may,  as  it  wore,  leave  in  our  rear 
behmd  us  the  wars,  the  strifes,  and  the  bloodshed  of  the 
elder  iurope,  and  I  f.ar  I  may  say,  of  the  elder  Asia- 
and  we  may  pledge  o„,«elvos,  weak  ,«  our  agency  „»; 


First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857.        97 

be,  imperfect  as  our  powers  maj  be,  inadequate  in  strict 
diplomatic  form  as  our  credentials  may  be,  yet,  in  the 
face  of  the  unparalleled  circumstances  of  the  place  and 
the  hour,  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  mighty 
vessels  whose  appearance  may  be  beai:Hful  upon   the 
waters,  even  as  are  the  feet  upon  mountains  of  those  who 
preach  the  Gospel  of  peace-r^  a  homage  due  to  that 
serene  science  which  often  affords  higher  and  holier  les 
sons  of  harmony  and  good-will  than  the  wayward  passions 
of  man  are  always  apt  to  learn-in  the  fa<;e  and  in  the 
strength  of  such  circumstances,  let  us  pledge  ourselves  to 
eternal  peace  between  the  Old  World   and  the  New. 
Why,  gentlemen,  what  excuse  would  there  be  for  misun- 
derstanding ?    What  justification  could  there  be  for  war, 
when  the  disarming  message,  when  the  full  explanation,' 
when  the  geni-d  and  healing  counsel  may  be  wafted  even 
across  the  mighty  Atlantic,  quicker  than  the  sunbeam's 
path  and  the  lightning's  flash  ?    I  feel,  gentlemen,  that  I 
shall  best  embody  the  sentiments  which  I  am  sure  per- 
vade this  entire  meeting-the  sentiments  most  akin  to  this 
company  and  this  hour,  if,  after  having  drank  the  health 
of  the  gentle  mistress  of  the  British  Islands,  I  now  call 
upon  you  to  drink,  with  congenial  honors,  to  the  lasting 
friendship  of  the  British  Islands  and  of  America,  and  to 
the  health  and  welfare  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States." 

On  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  August  5,  the  shore- 

5 


•N    .    ^ 


98        First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 

end  of  the  Cable  was  safely  landed  at  Yalcntia.    Tlie  Lord 
Lieutenant  formally  received  it  from  Lieut.  Pennock 
of  the  U.S.  steamer  Susquehanna,  to  whom  the  duty  of 
the  landing  had  been  assigned.     As  his    Excellency 
received  it,  he  gave  expression  to  a  hope  that  the  work  so 
well  begun  would  be  carried  to  a  satisfactory  completion. 
The  scene  in  the  harbor  of  Yalentia  at  this  time  was 
extremely  animated  and  exciting.  The  shore  was  covered 
with  an  immense  multitude,  attracted  by  the  extraordi- 
nary interest  of  the  occasion.     The  bay  was  dotted  with 
vessels  of  all  descriptions,  filled  with  eager  spectators  of 
the  scene.      His  Excellency  the  Lord  Lieutenant  was 
among  the  first  to  seize  the  end  of  the  Cable,  as  it  was 
passed  on  shore,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  attachment 
was  firmly  made  on  the  Irish  coast,  in  the  telegraph 
house  at  the  head  of  Yalentia  bay. 

The  wire  having  been  safely  secured,  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Day,  of  Kenmore,  pronounced  the  following 
prayer  ; 

O  Eternal  Lord  God  who  alone  spreadest  out  the  heavens,  and 
rulest  the  raging  of  the  sea;  who  hast  compassed  the  waters  with 
bounds,  till  day  and  night  come  to  an  end ;  and  whom  the  winds 
and  the  sea  obey  ;  Look  down  in  mercy,  we  beseech  thee,  upon  us 
thy  servant,  who  now  approach  the  throne  of  grace;  and  let  our 
prayer  ascend  before  thee  with  acceptance.  Thou  hast  commanded 
and  encouraged  us,  in  all  our  ways,  to  acknowledge  thee,  and  to 
commit  our  works  to  thee  rProv.  iii.  5,  6;  xvi.  3);  and  thou  hast 


I 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  18^7.        99 

graciously  promised  to  direct  our  paths,  anu  to  prosper  our  handi- 
work. We  desire  now  to  look  up  to  thee ;  and  believing  that  with- 
out thy  help  and  blessing,  nothing  can  prosper  or  succeed,  we 
humbly  commit  this  work,  and  all  who  are  engaged  in  it,  to  thy 
care  and  guidance.  Let  it  please  thee  to  grant  to  us  thy  servants 
wisdom  and  power,  to  complete  what  we  have  been  led  by  thy 
Providence  to  undertake ;  that  being  begun  and  carried  on  ia  the 
spirit  of  prayer,  and  in  dependence  upon  thee,  it  may  tend  to  thy 
glory :  and  to  the  good  of  all  nations,  by  promoting  the  iucrease  of 
I'nity,  peace,  and  concord. 

Overrule,  we  pray  thee,  every  obstacle,  and  remove  every  difP- 
culty  which  would  prevent  us  from  succeeding  in  this  important 
undertaking.  Control  the  winds  and  the  sea  by  thy  Almighty  power, 
and  grant  us  such  favorable  weather  that  we  may  be  enabled  to  lay 
the  Cable  safely  and  effectually.  And  may  thy  hand  of  power  and 
mercy  be  so  acknowledged  by  all,  that  the  language  of  every  heart 
may  be,  "  Not  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  give 
glory,"  that  so  thy  name  may  be  iiallowed  and  magnified  in  us  and 
by  us. 

Finally,  we  beseech  thee  to  implant  within  us  a  spirit  of  humanity 
and  childlike  dependence  upon  thee ;  and  teach  us  to  feel  as  well  as 
to  say,  "  If  the  Lord  will  we  shall  do  this  or  that." 

Hear  us,  0  Lord,  and  answer  us  in  these  our  petitions,  according 
to  thy  precious  promise  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.     Amen. 


The  Lord  Lieutenant  then  addressed  the  assemblage, 
as  follows : 

"  My  American,  English,  and  Irish  friends,  I  feel  at 
such  a  moment  as  this  that  no  language  of  mine  can  be 
becoming  except  that  of  prayer  and  praise.     However,  it 


*  i 


100     First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 

IS  allowable  to  any  human  lips,  though  they  have  not 
been  specially  qualified  for  the  office,  to  raine  the  ascrip- 
tion of  'Glory  to  God  in  the  highest;  on  earth  peac^, 
good  will  to  men.'     That,  I  believe,   is  the  spirit  in 
which   this  great  work   has  been  undertaken;   and   it 
is  this  reflection  that  encourages  me  to  feel  confident 
hopes  in   its   final   success.      I  believe   that  the   great 
work   now  so    happily   begun   will    accomplish   many 
great  and  noble  purposes  of  trade,  of  national  policy 
and  '  f  empire.     But  there  is  only  one  view  in  which 
I  will  present  it  to  those  whom  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  address.      You  are   awaro— you  must  know,  some 
of  you,  from  your  own  experience— tliat  many  of  your 
dear  friends  and  near  relatives  have  left  their   native 
land  to  receive  ho8j)itab]e  shelter  in  America.     VV\-11, 
then,  I  do  not  expect  that  all  of  you  can  understand 
the  wondrous  mechanism  by  which  this  ^^roat  under- 
tiiking  is  to  be  carried  on.     But  this,  I  think,  you  all 
of  you    understand.      If  you    wished    to  communicate 
some  piece  of  intelliLrcnt c  straightway  to  your  relatives 
across  the  wide  world  of  waters— if  you  v.\shvd  to  tell 
those  whom  you  know  it  would  interest  in  their  heart 
of  hearts,  of  a  birtli,   or  a  marriage,  or  alas,   a  d<'atii, 
among  you,  the  little  cord,  which  we  have  now  haulcvl  >ip 
to  shore,  will  imi)art  that  tidings  quicker  than  the  flash 


(\C     i\:,.       MA. 


lifL     u«    IIHU  lU    11(}I)( 


th 


pc,   let  lis  })ray  that 


c   hopes   oC  those  who   have    set  on   foot  tl 


lis 


great 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.      101 

design,  may  be  rewarded  by  its  entire  success ;  and  let 
lis  hope,  further,   that  this  Atlantic  Cable  will  also, 
in  all  future  tin.c,  serve  aa,  an  emblem  of  that  strong 
cord  of  love  which  I  trust  will  always  unite  the  British 
islands  to  the  great  continent  of  America.     And  you 
will  join  me  in  my  fervent  wish  that  the  Giver  of 
all  Good,   who  has  enabled  some  of  his  servants  to 
discern   so  much  of  the  working  of  the  mighty  laws 
by  which  he  fills  the  universe,  will   further  so  bless 
this  wonderful  work,  as  to  make  it  even  more  to  serve 
the  high  purpose  of  the  good  of  man  and  tend  to  His 
great  glory.     And  now,  all  my  friends,  as  there  can 
be  no  project  or  undertaking  which  ought  not  to  receive 
the  approbation  and  applause  of  the  people,  will  you 
join  with    me  in  giving  three  hearty  cheers    for   it. 
Three  cheers  are  not  enngh  for  me— they  are  what  we 
give  on  common  occasions— and  as  it  is  for  the  success 
of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Cable,  I  must  have  at  least  one 

dozen  cheers." 

Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field  was  called  upon.  He  said : 
"  I  have  no  words  to  express  the  feelings  which  fill  my 
hoar*  to-night— it  beats  with  love  and  affection  for  every 
man,  woman,  and  child  who  hears  me.  [Cheers.]  I  may 
say,  however,  that,  if  ever  at  the  other  si<le  of  the 
waters  now  before  us,  any  .'i,o  of  you  shall  pre8«>nt 
yourselves  at  my  door  and  say  that  you  took  hand  or 


i 


part,  even  by  an  approving 


smi 


le,   in  our  work  hero 


'o^      First  Expedition-Summer  of  18^7. 

to-day,   you   shall    l.ave   a   true    An.eriean    wcico.ne. 
I   cannot    bmd    ,ny,elf  to    n.ore,    and    eball    merely 

put  asunder.' " 

-        On  the  evening  of  Friday,  the  7th  of  August,  1857 

I.e  Te  ,.gra;,hie  Squadron  bore  away  from  the  eoast  ol' 

Ireland,  delivering  the  Cable  into  the  sea  at  a  slow  and 

atten,,,t  to  lay  the  Cable  by  eommeneing  at  the  Irish 
8b.>r..,  and  efleeting  a  spliee  in  midoeean,  the  wo:k  of 
pa..mg.out  waa  begun  by  the  Xiajara  alone.      Unfor- 
tunately  the    eommeneement    of  the  Expe,litio„  was 
.nau«,,.eious.      When  about  four  miles   of  the  thiek 
abore-end  of  the  Cable  had  been  payed  out,  it  beeame 
entangled  w>th  the  maehinery,  owing  to  a  momentary 
want  of  watchfulness,   and  parted.     An  attempt  wal 
.mmed,ate.ly  „,a,le  to  reeovr  the  lost  portion      Th» 
Au,3.„-a  eame  to  aneho.  for  the  „i„l,t.    On  the  foliowin.I 
day,  the  Cable  w.,  reeovorci,  a  spliee  was  ,„ade,  and 
the  work  was  resumed  without  further  aeeident  to  the 
snoie-end. 

At  p,„  on  Suadav,  August  9,  ninoty-five  m^^^^ 
Ul.le  luul  boon  oxpondod,  the  continuity  of  tho  olootric 
current  ronuuning  perfect,  ..d  signals  pass.ng  between 
the  .\uu^am  and  the  station  nt  VaL-ntia 
On    M:^!.  1  •-.. 


'  ^»"K«at  luiM,  at  t<  45  P.M. 


and  for  i 


wo 


First  Expedition— Si- mmer  of  1857.      103 

hours  afterwards,  the  electricians  failed  to  receive  signals, 
the  continuity  being  now,  for  the  first  time,  interrupted. 
Towards  midnight  the  current  was  re-established,  but 
the  hopes  which  this  circumstance  revived  were  of  short 

duration. 

On  Tuesday,  August  11th,  at  3  45  A.M.,  the  machinery 
stopped,  and  with  the  strain  the  Cable  parted.  Three 
hundred  and  forty-four  miles  of  the  Cable  were  lost; 
the  depth  of  water  in  which  it  was  submerged  being 

about  two  miles. 

The  first  Expedition  having  thus  come  to  an  untimely 
end,  nothing  remained  but  to  return  to  Ireland.  The 
Niagara  accordingly  put  about,  and  headed  for  Valentia. 
The  following  letter  from  Engineer  Bright  was  pub- 
licly read  on  board  the  Niagara  by  Captain  Hudson,  on 
the  return  trip.  It  expressly  exculpates  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Niagara  from  any  responsibility  for  the 
disaster; 


i 


At  Ska,  on  BoABn  the  Niagara, 

Thumdoy,  Aug.  13,  1857. 

Sir— I  feel  it  my  duty  bof.re  U-avin-  the  Niagara  to  sUte  thai 
I  do  not  attribute  the  fract.re  of  the  C.Me  to  bo  in  the  least  degree 
atU-hed  to  any  one  -onnccted  with  the  .hip ;  on  the  contrary,  I 
nmst  ta'--o  thus  opportunity  of  .-.xi-ressinp,  on  the  part  of  the  Com- 
pany, the  great  obHgatio..  whu-h  we  are  under  to  your«eU;  your 
otVicers  and  men,  anw  '   -  "^  ^   ^    == 


t        CilfMll 


'  04     First  Expedition— Summer  of  1 8^7. 
fern,  o„  „„,  behalf,  for  tha  „ever.f^li„g  «„  „,  ,.^„„„„ 
hM  been  «c  universJIj-  displayed  in  our  cause. 

I  am,  Sir,  4c.,  &c.,  &c 

(Signed,)  „ 

CnAEiEs  T.  Briohi, 

Engines  to  Ihe  Atlantic  Tdegraph  Cm.^ny. 
To  Captain  Hcoso,,  U.S.N.,  &.,  ic.,  &c. 

It  appears  that  at  the  time  the  Cable  parted,  there  was 
a  heavy  swell  in  the  sea.  and  that  while  the  vessel  waa 
making  some  three  or  four  knots  an  hour,  the  Cable 
was  running  out  at  the  rate  of  five  or  six,  and  some- 
times  even  seven  knots.    Mr.  Bright,  believing  that  the 
quantity  of  w-.  provided  for  the  Expedition  would,  at 
this  rate,  be  exhausted  before  the  Newfoundland  shore 
could   be  reaehed,   adopted  a  measure  which  unliap- 
pdy  pn>ved  fatal  to  the  enterpri.,e.    On  the  afternoon 
previous  ,0  the  accident,  tlie  Cable  w,«  thrown  out  of 
the  controller  on  two  different  occasions,  and  suffered 
severe  strains.     These  mishaps  had  given  rise  to  gloomy 
apprehensions.     The  pressure  upon  the  Cable  was  gra- 
dually  increased   until,  at  the  time  of  the  rupture    a 
force  01  3,000  pounds  was  apph.,,,.      At  this  mon^.t 
the  s„.rn  of  tl-.c  X„ya™  was  low  ,,„,„  in  the  trough 
of  the  .sea.     As  the  ship  rose  „„  the  back  of  the  wav.t, 
tbe  extra  strain  thus  occasioned  was  more   than   tl,': 


tiie  CiiiHo   c()uj(i  bear.      It 


^Mve   way    \in. 


First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857.      105 

der  tlie  pressure,  and,  parting  at  some  distance  from  the 
ship's  stern,  sank  like  lead. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  August  14th,  the  Niagara 
and  the  Agamemnon,  having  joined  company,  arrived  at 
Plymouth,  England,  attended  by  the  Susquehanna.    Here 
the  fleet  awaited  further  orders.     So  much  of  the  Cable 
had  been  lost,  disasters  had  appeared  10  multiply  with 
such  marvellous  celerity,  the  season  was  so  for  advanced, 
that  a  new  attempt  seemed  nearly  impracticable  durmg 
that  year,  and  the  further  progress  of  the  Expedition  be- 
came a  matter  of  serious  consider?  ti  on.     Grave  errors  in 
the  management  of  the  enterprise  had  been  developed 
during  this  Expedition ;  the  operation  of  the  machinery 
for  paying  out  the  Cable  was  disco \ered  to  be  defective; 
a  suspicion  was  excited  that  the  plan  needed  a  radical 
alteration ;  the  length  of  Cable  provided  by  the  Company 
had  pro-,  ed  inadequate  to  meet  unforeseen  contingencies. 
In  view  of  these  circumstances,  the  necessity  of  a  recon- 
struction and  thorough  modification  of  the  programme 
became  evident.     The  Directors,  after  a  series  of  meet- 
ings, held  at  their  office  in  London,  finally  resolved  to 
postpone,  but  not  to  abandon  the  enteq)rise. 

Tlio  following  is  Mr.  Brigiit's  official  report  of  this 

disaster : — 

London,  Tuesday.  Aug.  18. 

Gentlemkn— T  forwarded  by  the  Leopard  a  brief  statement  of  tlie 


circuni5>tani('8  aiu'iiuiug  Uit-  ira*  lUio 

5* 


tlwk    1  1  i\-i    inat 


io6 


First  Expedition— Summer  ot"  1857. 


and  I  have  now  to  lay  before  you  the  fuU  particulars  connected  with 
the  expedition. 

After  leaving  Valentia  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  inst,  the  paying 
out  of  the  Cable  from  the  Niagara  commenced  most  satisfactorily 
until  immediately  before  the  mishap. 

At  the  junction  between  the  shore  and  tlie  smaller  Cable,  about 
8  mdes  from  the  starting  point,  it  wa..  necessary  to  stop  to  renew 
the  sphce ;  this  was  successfully  ellected,  and  the  end  of  the  heavier 
Cable  lowered  by  a  hawser  until  it  reac-hed  the  bottom,  buoys  being 
attached  at  a  short  distance  apart  to  mark  the  place  of  union 

By  noon  of  the  8th  we  had  paid  out  40  miles  of  Cable,  including 
the  heavy  shore  end,  our  exact  position  at  that  time  being  in  lat  51° 
59'  36'  N,  long.  11°  19'  15^  W.,  and  Uie  depth  of  water,  according 
to  the  soundings  taken  by  the  Cychps,  whose  course  we  nearly 
followed,  90  fathoms. 

Up  to  4  P.M.  on  that  day,  the  egress  of  the  Cable  had  been  suffi- 
ciently retarded  by  the  power  necessary  to  keep  the  machinery  in 
motion  at  a  rate  a  httle  faster  than  the  speed  of  the  ship;  but  as 
tlie  water  deepened,  it  was  necessary  to  place  some  further  restraint 
upon  It  by  applying  pressure  to  the  friction  drums  in  connection  with 
the  paying-out  sheaves,  and  this  was  gradually  and  cautiously  in- 
creased from  time  to  time  as  the  speed  of  the  Cable,  compared  with  that 
of  Uie  vessel,  and  thedopths  of  the  soundings  showed  to  be  requisite 
By  midnight  85  miles  had  been  safely  lai.' ;  the  depth  of  water 
being  then  a  httle  more  than  200  fathoms. 

At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  9th,  we  had  finished  the  de.k 
cod  in  tlie  after  j.art  of  the  ship,  having  paid  out  120  miles  The 
change  to  the  coil  between  docks  fu,  ward  was  safely  n.ado 

By  noon  we  had  laid  130  miles  of  Cable,  the  Niagara  having 
veached  lat  52»  11'  40'  K,  long.  13°  10'  20'  ^^'.,  a„d  the  d.,,  h  of 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.      107 


m 


In  the  evening  the  speed  of  the  vessel  was  raised  to  5  knots  per 
hour.  I  had  previously  kept  down  the  rate  at  from  3  to  4  knots 
for  the  small  Cable,  and  2  for  the  heavy  end  next  the  shore,  wish- 
ing to  get  the  men  and  macliinery  well  at  work  prior  to  atuinmg 
tlie  speed  which  I  had  anticipated  making. 
By  midnight  189  miles  had  been  laid. 

At  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  depth  of  water  be- 
gan to  hiciease  rapidly  from  550  fathoms  to  1,750  in  a  distance  of 
8  miles.  Up  to  this  time  7  cwt  strain  sufficed  to  keep  tlie  rate  of 
the  Cable  near  enough  to  that  of  the  ship ;  but  as  the  wat(;r  deep- 
ened the  proportionate  speed  of  the  Cable  advanced,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  augment  the  pressure  by  degrees  until  in  the  depth  of 
1,700  fathoms,  the  indicator  showed  a  stram  of  15  cwt,  while  the 
Cable  and  ship  were  running  5i  and  5  knots  respectively. 

At  noon  on  the  10th  we  had  paid  out  255  miles  of  Cable,  the 
vessel  having  made  214  miles  from  shore,  being  then  in  lat.  52°  27' 
50'  N.,  long.  16"  0'  15'  W.  At  tliis  time  we  experienced  an  in- 
creasing swell,  followed  later  in  the  day  by  a  stro.ig  breeze. 

From  this  period,  having  reached  2,000  fathoms  water,  it  was 
neces^sary  to  mcrease  the  strain  to  a  ton,  by  which  the  rate  of  tlie 
Cable  was  maintained  in  due  proportion  to  that  of  the  ship. 

At  6  in  the  evening  some  difficulty  ai(»se  through  the  Cable 
getting  out  of  the  sheaves  of  the  paying-out  machine^  owing  to  the 
tar  and  pitch  hardening  in  the  grooves,  and  a  sphce  of  large  dimen- 
Bions  passing  over  them.  This  was  rectified  by  fixing  additional 
guards,  and  softening  the  txir  with  oil. 

It  was  necessary  to  bring  up  the  ship,  holding  the  Cable  by  stop- 
pers until  it  was  again  properly  disposed  around  the  pulleys.  Some 
importance  is  due  to  tliis  event,  as  showing  that  it  is  possible  to  lie 
to  in  deep  water  without  continuing  to  pay  out  tlie  Cable— a  pomt 
upon  which  doubts  uav«  been  frequenily  expressed. 


n 


i 


io8     First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 

Shortly  after  this  the  speed  of  the  Cable  j^ained  considerably  upon 
that  of  the  ship,  and  up  to  9  o'clock,  while  the  rate  of  the  latter  was 
about  3  knots  by  the  log,  the  Cable  was  running  out  from  5i  to  5i 
knots  per  hour.     The  strain  was  then  raised  to  25  cwt. ;  but  the 
wind  and  sea  increasing,  -.nd  a  current  at  the  same  time  carrying 
tlie  Cable  at  an  angle  from  the  direct  line  of  the  ship's  course  it  was 
no.  found  sufficient  lo  check  the  Cable,  which  was  at  midnight  mak- 
ing 2i  knots  above  the  speed  of  the  ship,  and  sometimes  imperiUing 
the  safe  uncoiling  in  the  hold.     The  retarding  force  was  therefore 
increased  at  2  o'clock  to  an  amount  equivalent  to  30  cwt.,  and  then 
agam,  m  consequence  of  the  speed  continuing  to  be  more  than  it 
would  have  been  prudent  to  admit,  35  cwt.    By  this  the  rate  of  the 
Cable  was  brought  to  a  little  short  of  5  knote,  at  which  it  continued 
steadily  untU  4  45,  when  it  parted,  the  length  paid  out  at  that  time 
bemg  335  miles. 

I  had,  up  to  this  time,  attended  personally  to  the  regulation  of  the 
breaks;  but,  finding  that  aU  w^  going  on  well,  and  that  it  being 
necessary  that  J  should  be  temporarily  away  from  the  machine  to 
ascertain  the  rat.  of  the  ship,  and  to  see  how  the  Cable  was  coming 
out  of  the  hold,  and  also  to  visit  the  electrician,  the  machine  was  for 
the  moment  left  in  charge  of  a  mechanic  who  had  been  engaged 
from  the  first  in  its  construction  and  fitting,  and  was  acquainted 
with  Its  operation. 

I  was  proceeding  to  the  fore  part  of  the  ship  when  I  heard  the 
tnacme  stop;  I  iramediately  called  out  to  ease  the  break  and  re- 
verse the  engine  of  the  ship,  but  when  I  reached  the  spot  the  Cable 
was  broken. 

On  examining  tlie  machine,  which  wa.s  otherwise  in  perfect  order 
I  found  that  the  breaks  had  not  been  relea3ed,  ana  to  this,  or  to  the 
handwheel  of  the  break  bemg  turned  the  wrong  way,  may  be  attri- 


vavcra 


tue  jtoppago,  aud  the  consequent  fracture  of  the  Cable.  When 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.      ^°9 

the  rati^  of  the  wheels  grew  slower  aa  the  ship  dropped  her  stern  in 
the  swell,  the  break  should  have  been  eased;  this  had  been  done 
regularly  before,  whenever  an  unusually  sudden  descent  of  the  ship 
temporarily  withdrew  the  pressure  from  the  Cable  in  the  sea ;  but, 
owing  to  our  entering  the  deep  water  the  previous  morning,  and 
having  all  hands  ready  for  any  emergency  that  might  occur  there, 
the  chief  part  of  my  staff  had  been  compelled  to  give  in  at  night 
through  sheer  exhaustion,  and  hence,  being  short-handed,  I  was 
obliged  for  the  time  to  leave  the  machine  without,  as  it  proves,  suffi- 
cient intelligence  to  control  it. 

I  perceive  that  on  the  next  occasion  it  will  be  needful,  from  the 
wearing  and  anxious  nature  of  the  work,  to  have  three  separate  relays 
of  staff,  and  to  employ,  for  attention  to  the  breaks,  a  higher  degree 
of  mechanical  skilL 

The  origin  of  the  accident  was  no  doubt  the  amount  of  retarding 
strain  put  upon  the  Cable,  but  had  the  machine  been  properly  mani- 
pulated at  the  time  it  could  not  pospibly  have  taken  place. 

It  has  been  suggested  as  a  cause  of  the  failure  that  the  machinery 
is  too  massive  and  ponderous.  My  experience  of  its  action  teaches 
otherwise ;  for  three  days  in  shallow  and  deep  water,  as  well  as  in 
rapid  transition  from  one  to  the  other,  nothing  could  be  more  per- 
fect ihan  its  working,  and  since  it  performed  its  duty  so  sn.oothly 
and  efficiently  in  the  smaller  depths,  where  the  weight  of  the  Cable 
had  less  ability  to  overcome  its  friction  and  resistance,  it  can  scarcely 
be  said  to  be  too  hea\/  for  deep  water,  where  it  was  necessary  for 
the  increased  weight  of  Cable  to  restrain  its  rapid  motion  by  apj)ly- 
ing  to  it  a  considerable  degree  of  additional  friction.  Its  action  was 
most  complete,  and  all  parts  worked  well  together.  I  pee  how  it 
can  be  improve.l  by  a  modification  in  the  form  of  sheave,  by  an  ad- 
dition to  the  arrangement  for  adjusting  the  breaks,  and  some  other' 
slight  alterations;    but  with    proper  management,    without   any 


h.. 

1 

'r 

1 

ii. 

1 

1 

1 

:    1 

no 


First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 


'  I 


m^ 


change  whatever,  I  am  coDfident  that  the  whole  length  of  the 
Cable  might  have  been  safely  laid  by  it,  and  it  must  be  remembered, 
as  a  test  of  the  work  which  it  has  done,  that,  unfortunate  as  this 
termination  to  the  expedition  is,  the  longest  length  of  Cable  ever 
laid  has  been  paid  out  by  it,  and  that  in  the  deepest  water  ^et 
passed  over. 

After  the  accident  had  occurre'^,  soundmgs  were  taken  by  Lieu- 
tenant Dayman,  and  the  depth  found  to  be  2,000  fathoms. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  some  importance  was  attached  to  the 
Cables  in  the  Niagara  and  Agamemnon  being  manufactured  in  oppo- 
site lays.  I  thought  this  a  favorable  opportunity  to  show  that  prac- 
tically the  difference  was  not  of  consequencs  in  affectmg  the  junc- 
tion in  mid-ocean.  We  therefore  made  a  splice  between  the  two 
vessels,  and  several  nules  were  then  paid  out  vrithout  difficulty 

I  requested  i}  e  c^jnunanders  of  the  vessels  to  proceed  to  Ply- 
mouth, as  the  docks  there  afforded  better  facilities  than  any  other 
port  for  landing  the  Cable,  should  it  be  necessary  to  do  so. 

The  whole  of  the  Cable  on  board  has  been  carefully  tested  and 
inspected,  and  fouud  to  be  in  as  perfect  condition  as  when  it  left  the 
works  at  Greenwich  and  Birkenhead. 

One  important  point  presses  for  your  consideration  at  an  early 
period;  a  large  portion  of  the  Cable  already  laid  may  be  recovered 
at  a  comparative  small  expense.  I  append  an  estimate  of  the  cost, 
and  shall  be  glad  to  receive  jour  authority  to  proceed  with  thia 
work. 

I  do  not  perceive  in  cur  present  condition  any  reason  for  dis- 
couragement, but  I  have,  on  the  contrary,  a  greater  confidence  than 
ever  in  the  undertaking.  It  has  been  proved  beyond  a  doubt  that 
no  obstacle  exists  to  prevent  our  ultimate  success,  and  I  see  clearly 
how  every  difficulty  which  has  presented  itself  in  this  voyage  can 

be   affft<^fiml1g    Aam}t    nrifVi    ;r>    *V.^    ..._i. 


First  Expedition — Summer  of  1857.      111 

The  Cable  has  been  paid  at  the  expected  rate  in  the  great  depths ; 
its  electrical  working  through  the  entire  length  has  been  most  satis- 
factorily accompUshed,  while  the  portion  laid  actually  improved  in 
efficiency  by  being  submerged,  from  the  low  temperature  of  the 
water,  and  the  clope  compression  of  the  texture  of  the  gutta  percha. 

The  structure  of  the  Cable  has  answered  every  expectation  that 
I  had  formed  of  it,  and  if  it  were  now  necessary  to  construct  another 
Hne  I  should  not  recommend  any  alteration  from  the  present  Cable, 
which  in  its  working  has  confirmed  my  belief  that  it  is  expressly 
adapted  to  our  requirements.  Its  weight  in  the  water  is  so  adjusted 
to  the  depth  that  the  strain  \a  within  a  manageable  scope,  while  the 
efifect  of  undercurrents  upon  its  surface  proves  how  dangerous  it 
would  be  to  attempt  to  lay  a  much  Ughter  rope,  which  would,  by 
the  greater  time  occupied  in  sinking,  expose  an  increased  surface  to 
their  power. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  gentlemen, 
Yours  very  faithfully, 

Charles  T.  Bright. 


Captain  Hudson's,  official  report  to  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment was  as  followfc; : — 


United  States  Steam-Friqate  Niagara, 
Plymouth,  England,  Friday,  Aug.  14,  1857. 

Sir— I  y  we  the  honor,  as  well  as  the  mortification,  to  report  the 
arrival  of  the  Niagara  at  this  port,  after  having  run  out  334  miles  of 
Cable,  some  portions  of  it  in  a  depth  of  over  2,050  fathoms,  or  more 
than  2i  miles,  when  it  was  brokei  by  too  much  pressure  on  the 
brake  attached  to  the  machinery  for  paying  it  out.  I  have  every 
reason  to  believe,  from  what  w*  iiave  thus  far  oxpenenceu  «n  wirs 


m 


112 


First  Expedition— Summer  of  1857. 


laying,  that  under  ordinary  circumstances  of  weather,  and  with 
-aclunery  adapted  to  the  purpose-for  such  as  we  have  on  board 
requires  altering  and  improving-the  Cable  may  be  laid  in  safety 
on  the  track  marked  out  for  it  over  the  Atlantic  ocean 

At  the  time  the  Cable  parted-Aug.  11,  3  45  x.M.-the  ship  was 
goiug  along  4  knots,  and  had  been  running  at  the  rate  of  from  3  to 
4  knots  through  the  night,  with  some  motion  from  a  moderate  head 
sea,  and  the  Company's  chief  engineer  and  men  attending  their 
brakes  to  lessen  the  expenditure  of  Cable,  until  they  finaUy  earned 
It  away  which  made  aU  hands  of  us  through  the  day  hke  a  house- 
hold  or  family  which  had  lost  their  dearest  friend,  for  officers  and 
men  had  become  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  the  enter- 
prise. 

Mr.  FiEtn  left  the  ship  soon  after  the  accident  occurred,  in  H  B  M 
steam-brig  Cyclops,  for  Valentia  Bay,  Ireland,  requesting  that  'the 
I^^agara,  Susqv^anna,  and  Agamemnon  should  proceed  to  this  place 
after  making  certain  experiments  with  the  wire  and  machinery  ixi 
deep  water.     The  Leopard  proceeded  at  once  to  Spithead. 

Whether  the  Company  intend  to  supply  additional  Cable,  and  try 
It  agam  this  season,  or  defer  it  until  next  summer,  I  am  as  yet  un 
advised.  //  the  latter,  the  wire  will  have  to  be  taken  out  of  the  ship 
and  retarred,  to  save  it  from  the  effecta  of  rust.  I  presume  a  few 
days  W.U  solve  their  present  difficulties  as  to  further  action-  and  if 
their  eflfort  is  not  to  be  renewed  at  this  kte  season  of  the'year  I 
shaU  require  further  instructions  to  govern  my  ,-,,  ,eeedin<^ 

with  this  sliip.  " 

I  herewith  inclose  a  copy  of  communications  received  from  th. 
Telograpbc  Company,  while  at  Queenstown,  or  Cove  of  Cork  Ire- 
land; also  the  certificate  or  letter  of  their  chief  engineer.  Mr  Bright 
exonerating  aU  the  officers  and  men  connected  with  the  Niagara 


I 


^ 


First  Expedition— Summer  of  4857.      1 13 

from  8  ay  accountability  or  blanu.>  in  relation  to  the  parting  or  loss 
of  the  Telegraphic  Cable. 

I  am  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

William  L.  Hudson. 

Tlie  operations  of  the  Electricians'  department,  during 
this  trip,  having  been  superintended  by  Prof  Morse, 
thai  gentleman  gave  pubhcity  to  certain  reflections  upon 
the  conduct  of  Chief  Engineer  Bkight.  In  a  journal  of 
the  voyage,  published  with  the  sanction  of  Prof.  Morse, 
the  following  language  was  employed : 

Our  ship  was  going  at  the  rate  of  four  miles  and  two  fathoms 
per  hour,  and  the  Cable  running  out  at  greater  speed,  perhaps  at 
the  rate  of  five  miles  the  hour.  Mr.  Bright  spoke  to  the  man 
in  charge  of  the  brakes,  asking  him  what  strain  was  on  the  Cable, 
to  which  the  answer  wa;s  returned,  "  About  three  thousand  pounds." 
..;.r.  Bright  directed  him  to  put  one  hundred  pounds  more  of  force 
upon  the  brakes,  to  check  the  speed  of  the  cable.  This  was  demur- 
red to  by  the  man  for  a  moment,  who  expressed  a  fear  that  it  would 
not  be  prudent.     Mr.  Bright  persevered  in  his  orders. 

An  ample  retraction  of  this  aspersion  was  subsequently 
made  by  Prof.  Mouse,  on  the  receipt  of  an  explanatory 
letter  from  Mr.  Bright.  This  letter  was  published 
in  tlic;  American  papers,  towards  the  end  of  October, 
1857,  at  the  request  of  Prof  Morse.  In  the  course  of 
his  explanatory  statement,  Mr.  Bright  observes : 

I  am  quite  willing  to  take  the  reproach  to  i  yself  which  always 


114      FJ^'st  Expedition — Summer  oi  1857. 

belongs  to  a  want  of  success  in  any  enterprise,  but  will  you  allow 
me  to  coiTect  your  narrative  ?  I  had  been  on  deck  all  night;  the 
brakes  had  been  regulated  by  myself  or  Mr.  Clifford,  one  of  the 
Assistant  Engineers  on  board,  the  whole  time.  The  strain  which  was 
on  the  Cable  when  it  parted  had  been  on  for  some  time;  I  gave  the 
man  at  the  brake  no  orders  to  alter  the  adjustmeat,  nor  did  ho  demur 
to  any,  nor  make  any  such  observation  as  you  allude  to.  I  set  the 
brakes  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  at  least,  before  the  accident,  and 
watched  tho  efiect  carefully,  until  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  machine, 
.<V.r  the  first  time  in  two  hours,  to  visit  the  hold  and  the  electrical 
room,  and  to  ascertain  the  rate  of  the  ship,  as  reported  to  the  officers 
of  the  deck.  Before  I  had  been  absent  two  minutes,  the  accident 
occurred. 

My  only  reason  in  troubling  you  with  this  is  to  correct  your 
impression  that  I  pei-sisled  in  increasin-,'  the  strain  when  the  men 
undt  •  my  command  hesitated. 

I  am,  my  dear  sir. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Charles  T.  Bright. 
Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  Poiujhkerpsie. 

It  is  right  that  the  opjwrtuHity  of  exculpation  should 
be  accorded  to  Mr.  Bkigiit,  in  cornexion  with  thia 
history. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE   EXPEDITION   OF   1858. 


THE  Directors  of  tlie  Company,  undismayed  by  the 
failure  which  had  attended  the  initial  attempt  in  the 
summer  of  1857,  immediately  proceeded  to  revise  their 
j)lan  of  operations,  with  the  view  <^f  introducing  such 
improvements  as  should  render  thti  ultimate  success  of 
their  enter])rise  more  certain.  It  was  a  natural  effect  of 
failure  that  the  mass  of  the  public,  both  in  England  and 
America,  lost  conlidence  in  the  Mracticability  of  the  won- 
(l  rful  })roject,  and  that  the  Company  sliould  be  called 
to  experience  the  fate  that  invariably  attends  the  movers 
in  a  new  field.  The  Submarine  Cable  began  to  be 
looked  up(m  by  the  disbelieving  as  a  suspicious  s{)ccu- 
lation,  in  whie.li  unlimited  capital  might  })e  sunk,  and 
iniiunuM-able  hopes  cru.shed,  with'Mit  the  smallest  ehanee 
f'..r  a  profitable  n>tarn.  The  magnitude  of  the  work 
was  regarded  with  j)ride ;  its  projectors  were  accorded 
tiie  meed  v,i  praise  wiiieii  cannot  be  willilieui   from  tae 


ii6 


'jjt- 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


most  unsuccessful,  when  it  is  once  fairly  understood  that 
an  honest  faith  has  underlaid  the  attempt  to  bring  forth 
a  new  work  ;  and  the  utility  of  a  means  of  instantaneous 
communication  between  two  nations  so  closely  linked  as 
England  and  America  was  universally  acknowledged 
Yet  the  expression  of  distrust  became  general.     The  dis- 
asters which  had  attended  the  first  attempt  to  lay  the 
Cable,  the  enormous  expenditure  that  had  been  incurred, 
the  apparently  insurniomitablc  difficulties  which  remained 
to  be  encountered,  all  became  powerful  arguments  in 
opposition   to   the   new  programme   of  the   Company. 
Capitalist,  usually  eager  to  embark  in  gigantic  enter- 
prises, were  unwilling  to  venture  investments  in  an  ope- 
ration tlia*.  promised  distant  returns,  or  none  at  all.    The 
tone  of  the  Press,  with  a  few  sagacious  exceptions,  was 
lukewarm,  if  not  absolutely  hostile.     The  progress  of  tlie 
work  was  regarded  with  disfavor  by  all  parties,  with  the 
exception  of  the  small  number  of  determintd  ^rontlemen 
who  constituted  the  Direction  of  the  Company,  whose 
co!.fidence  remained   firm,  and  whose  energy  knew  no 
rest.     To  these  gentlemen,  among  whose  names  that  of 
Mr.  CvKrs  W.  Fikli,  occupies  an  h<m..re.l  place,   the 

final  triumph  seemed  a  matter  (.f,.i,.sy  aee(,mj)lishment,— 
easy,  because  wisdom  had  be.>n  gained  by  exj/'Henee,'— 
easy,  from  the  fact,  that  lh,«  dangers  already  <l.veloped 
in  the  course  of  careful  experiment  eanie.l  witli  them  the 


HUggestion  of  methods  f 


or  overeomin'f  them. 


The  Expedition  of  1858.  n? 

Accordingly,  the  Directors  began  their  preparations 
early  in  the  fall  of  1857.     A  general  invitation  was  ex- 
tended to  scientific  gentlemen  to  fi  •      h  the  results  of 
their  experience,  as  guides  to  futuic  operations.     The 
assistance  of  skilful  mechanics  was  invited.     The  coope- 
ration of  adepts  in  matters  of  scientific  importance,  and 
in  the  details  of  mechanical  arrangement,  was  secured, 
and  the  plan  of  1858  began  to  assume  definite  forms 
before  the  end  of  1857.     Frequent  conferences,  held 
at  short   intervals  from    October  to  December,    1857, 
resulted  in  the  adoption  of  a  number  of  important  modi- 
fications, which  may  be  generally  indicated  under  four 
divisions,  viz. : 

1.  A   junction  of   the  Telegraphic  Cable    in    mid- 

oooan. 

2.  The  provision  of  a  greater  length  of  Cable. 

3.  The  selection  of  an  earlier  season  of  the  year. 
1.  An  improvement  in  the  paying-ou^  -nachincry. 

The  reasons  for  these  changes  appeared  irn^futablo.  It 
was  argurd  that  the  Subniarino  Cable  would  be  h^ss 
liable  (n  breakage  if  paid  out  from  mid-ocean,  than  if  it 
were  starUMl  fn>i:i  ouc  end  of  ihc  lin.-  an.l  taken  up  by 
the  see....  1  vessel  at  a  \H,\ui  e(}uidistant  fn.m  th.>  two 
shores.  A  gieatrr  length  ..f  Cable  was  (  rdered,  to  j.ro- 
.....•.♦j.w.riM.i^v  of   iVi'sli   nimliMps.     Tb ; 

orable  season 


V  11  If 


mon 


th  of  Jun(>  was  regarded  as  a  more 


iiH 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


of  tlie  vear  tl.an   August.     The  payiug-out  m.u^binery 
having  prov...l  .lumsy  at.d  mcmci.nt  upon  the  first  trial 
un.lcTwent  cssontiul  chanp,vs,  an.l  w.-us  rnuhred  a.s  nearly 
I)orfect  a.s  mechanical  ingenuity  could  niaku  it     Thr:8r- 
were  the  ra,lieal  alteratiors  which  entered  into  the  man- 
ugeuKMit  of  the  nvcund  Expedition. 

While  theCon,,,any  were  engaged  in  perfecting  the 
arrang,.,nents  for  a  new  Expedition,  efforts  were  made 
under  the  direction  of  their  Chief  Engineer,  Mr.  Bright,' 
to  recover  the  stibmerged  portion  of  t!ie  Cable  which  wa^ 
lost  at  the  ti.ne  of  the  first  fail.ire.     The  ]iritish  steamrr 
Leipsic  w,us  det^iiled  for  this  service.     Operations  were 
.•onnnenccl  Oct.  22,  1657.     The  Cable  had  be<m  secured 
to  the   Irish  snore  by  a  heavy  shore-line,  mad.'  ftust  in 
the  station  at  Valencia.      An   i.igcnious  apparatus  w.xs 
oonsfrwcted   for   under-running   this  shore-cable  to  the 
point  «.f  junction  with   the  .nain   line.     A  heavy  frame 
of  tind>er  (technically,   a  caUimaran),   bearing  a  saddle 
fixed  between  (wo  iron  buoys,  w.us  ru.i  under  tlu'  shorc- 
^>'^d,  and  then  towel  .n.t  by  the  A.v)./..     The  operation 
of  hauling  in  and  recoiling  was  .muv.  ^sfujlv  pr<..-,e,.uted 
"ntd  some   (iftythr.v  n.iles  were  recovered,  when    the 
weather  becoming  l)oist<>rous,  with  heaw  gales,  the  work 

■'*^'^^^"'-^' ^'"'"''^-  ^ •J.e  partmg  or  the  wire,  and  this 

"ttc  upt  ended.     The  nart  of  ,],.  Cable  which  was  re- 


.  1.: 


injury,  ai,<t   w..s   T.und   available  f; 


-l'«ouio„   ,„,re  „o  aj)peai.   .ce  of 


T  use.     Xdne  of  tlu 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


119 


gutta-percha  coatings  were  disturbed,  and  the  tarring  of 
the  wire  remained  perfect. 

While  these  move-  *-'  were  in  progress,  the  frigates 
Niagara  and  Agamei  ...,v  lischargcd  the  Cable  at  Key- 
ham  Docks  in  England.  The  portion  shipped  on  board 
tlie  latter  vessel  was  discharged  very  slowly,  at  a  rats 
of  speed  -lot  exceeding  one  mile  per  hour.  The  share 
ccnsigned  to  the  Niagara  was  unshipped  with  great 
rapidity,  in  order  to  permit  the  return  of  that  vessel  to 
the  United  States.  As  the  Cable  was  paid  out,  it  passed 
through  a  composition  of  tar,  pitch,  hnseed  oil  and  bees- 
wax, and  was  coiled,  in  compact  circles,  in  tanks  con- 
structed for  the  pur|wse.  Ilore  it  remained  undisturbed 
until  again  shipped  on  board  the  Niagara  and  Agamem- 
non for  the  hust  Expedition.  The  Niagara  returned  to 
this  port  in  the  winter,  ;ind  underwent  examination,  but 
was  ft.und  to  be  in  excellent  condition,  requiring  but 
slight  repairs. 

In  the  course  of  the  winter,  the  Company  applied  to 
the  British  and  American  Governments  for  the  re-em- 
ployment of  the  vessels  ol  the  squadron  of  1857,  in  the 
TU'W  attenq)t  resolved  iqxni  for  the  summer  of  1858.  To 
the  credit  of  both  Governments,  this  request  was  met  by 
.1  cordi.illy  aOirmative  resjionse.  The  British  Govern- 
ment again  ])Uiced  the  fme  ship  Ag'nunnnnn,  Captain 
ruiDDlK,  with  the  steam-tenders  Vaionyiia  and  (iurgnn^ 
nn<ler  the  direction  of  the  Company.     Our  own  Govern- 


120 


"he  Expedition  of  1858. 


inent,  with  coinincndable  promptitude,  rc-assigncd  the 
N'ugara  to  a  siinihir  serviee.  The  Secretiiry  of  the  Navy 
wrote  to  the  Directo    ,  in  December,  1807,  us  follows  :— 

Navy  Department,  Dec.  30,  1857. 
Gentlemen— Your  communication  of  tlie  23d  inst  has  been 
recoived.  I  have  to  inform  you,  in  reply,  that  by  direction  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  the  steam-frigiite  Niagara  will  again 
be  detailed  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  laying  the  Telegraphic 
Cable  next  Summer.  The  Department  will,  agreeably  to  your 
request^  give  Chief-Engineer  Everett  leave  of  absence,  with  per- 
mission to  bave  the  UuiUnl  States,  that  the  Telegraphic  Company 
may  avail  itaelf  of  his  services  in  connexion  witli  this  work. 
I  am,  roHpectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Isaac  Tojcnr. 

The  Kiwjara  was  again  placed  under  command  of 
Capt.  W.  L.  Hudson,  U.S.N.— a  most  capable  and 
energetic  officer,  to  whose  unwearied  exertions  and 
unbounded  enthusiasm  in  the  work,  no  small  share  m 
the  fnial  success  of  this  enterj^rise  is  due.  The  Niagara 
sailed  from  the  port  of  New  Vork  iya  the  9th  of  March, 
1858,  on  her  return  to  Kn<,'huid,  and  arrived  at  Ply- 
mouth on  the  24th  of  tht>  same  month. 

With  the  oiuming  of  the  Sj)ring,  the  Company  began 
active  proparati(^is  for  tlie  ntw  E.\])edition.     Pending 

the  negotiations  with  tlie  Governments  for  the  use  of  the 

1.1:.: 1  ... 


•    -  cS-  -i  —    .  ..  ^ ., 


•"•rr 


iiLo  v'i     liiv"    Viiuie    iia<i 


been    maiiul',.tiire«i    in    Knglaml,    the   new   paying-out 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


121 


machines  were  already  under  way,  and  all  things  were 
ordered.to  bo  in  readiness  for  a  second  attempt  early  in 
the  ensuing  Summer.  A  description  of  the  new  machi- 
nery is  embodied  in  another  r-.ge  of  this  work. 

The  re-shi])ment  of  the  Cubic  for  the  Second  Expedi- 
tion was  commenced  at  Key  ham  Docks  (Plymouth,  Eng.) 
on  Friday,  March  19,  1858.     At  first,  the  Arjamfmnnn 
alone  received  the  wire;  the  Niagara  not  having  been 
fully  prepared  for  the  stowage  of  her  portion.     Various 
important  alterations  were  made  on  board  both  vessels, 
with  a   view,  not   only  of  insuring  greater  safety  in 
paying-out,  but  in  order  to  accommodate  the  enlarged 
bulk  of  the  Cable.     The  preliminary  trial  had  demon- 
ttrated  the  existence  of  seriovs  defects  in  the  manner  of 
shipment  on  board  the  Againemnon.     These  errors  were 
corrected.     Instead  of  coiling  the  Cable  in  an  oval  form 
in  the  hold  of  that  vessel,  it  was  arranged  in  a  circle, 
winding  around  a  huge  circular  cone,  twelve  feet  three 
inchc3  high,  ten  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and  five 
feet  at   the   ai)e.c. "   It  wa.s   the   breaking  of  this  cone 
which  afterwards  so  seriously  i.;>perilled  the  Agamem- 
non, during  the  lieavy  storms  shc^  encountered  in  Juno. 
A  new  coil  w;i.s  laid  upon  the  upj)or  deck,  aboft  the 
foremitst;    and   another  on    the   orlop   deck.     A    new 
^uard  w;us  also  fixed  nt  the  stern  of  tiic  shij),  protecting 
rhf:  proju-llcr,  in  order  to  ;>revent  contact  with  the  Cable 
during  the  process  of  jiavuig-out. 


tn 
.s, 


122 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


The  labor  0^  coiling  into  tlie  Niagara  was  accomplislied 
at  the  rate  of  30  miles  per  day ;  a  portion  was  stored 
in  the  ward-room  circle,  and  a  portion  in  the  lower  for- 
ward hold,  the  work  going  on  day  and  night  without 
intermission.  The  ward-room  circle  had  31  li  miles  of 
the  Cable  coiled  round  a  cone  in  the  centre  of  the  circle, 
the  diameter  of  which  ',yas  38  feet,  the  cone  itself  being  9 
feet  diameter  at  bottom,  by  4  feet  6  inches  at  the  top,  and 
extending  to  within  2  feet  6  inches  of  the  deck.  Around 
the  cone  were  suspended  three  iron-bound  bar  hoops, 
about  18  inches  from  the  cone,  intended  to  guide  and 
direct  the  Cable  out  as  it  passed  from  the  tier.  In  this 
tier  there  were  89  flakes,  laid  down  with  great  care,  each 
flake  averaging  270  turns  round  the  cone,  and  there  were 
employed  constantly  ir.  the  circle,  to  receive  and  coil 
away,  40  men,  30  of  whom  were  of  the  ciew,  and  10 
Company's  men.  As  these  men  had  to  be  relieved  every 
four  hours,  eighty  and  sometimes  more,  were  detailed  for 
the  dutv  in  that  circle,  while  at  the  same  time  another  ffanjr 
was  similarly  employed  in  the  lower  hold,  the  forwnrd 
gang,  consisting  of  50  men  from  the  ship,  and  10 
Company's  men. 

The  lower  1k)1(1  <lifrered  very  little,  if  any,  from  the  ward- 
room circle  or  cone,  except  in  being  higher.  In  this  part 
of  liie  ship  tliore  were  351)^  miles  of  cable.  Immediately 
above  this  lowvr  (Mrward  cone  was  the  orlop-deck  circle, 
the  span  and  diameter  the  same  as  in  the  ward-rooms. 


The  Expedition  of  1858.  123 

The  third  circle  was  immediately  over  the  orlop- 
deck  circle,  with  the  same  dimensions  <is  the  others. 
The  berth  deck  received  its  portion  of  2vjO  miles. 
Directly  over  this  circle  was  the  upper-deck  circle. 
Here  250  miles  were  coiled.  Its  diameter  was  27  feet  6 
inches. 

There  was  still  another  circle  on  the  quarter-deck 
circle.  It  was  somewhat  smaller,  and  contained  150 
miles  only.  All  the  circles  and  cones  were  fitted  the 
same  in  every  respect,  with  great  precision . 

In  addition,  a  massive  structure  11  feet  high,  20  feet 
long,  and  eight  foet  bread,  was  placed  on  the  quarter- 
deck,  intended  to  sustain  machinery.  Besides  this,  and 
independent  of  the  coils  of  Cable  ir-  the  circles  (in  the 
aggregate  some  i,G0O  miles  of  Cable)  a  large  portion  of 
the  old  Cable  lost  last  yea.  prd  recovered  was  placed 
on  the  forecastle  deck,  being  put  on  board  for  experi- 
mental  purposes. 

The  presence  of  a  hxge  force  of  men  was  rendered  neces- 
sary on  board  the  ships,  in  order  to  effect  a  proper  arrange- 
ment of  the  Cable  and  insure  its  safety  during  the  process 
of  pay  ing-out.  Thus  the  company  on  board  the  Niagara, 
wlio  were  actively  engaged  in  the  operations,  consisted 
of  a  director,  one  or  two  superintendents,  several  cable- 
inspectors,  four  or  five  overseers,  not  less  than  six 
:;tricians;  with  eamenters.  black-smi 


3a  rp 


cabl< 


coilers,  and  40  to  50  of  the  crew  constantly  emjiloyed 


)24 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


and  when  two  gangs  were  at  work  the  complement  was 
doubled.  There  was  also,  one  of  the  ship's  officers 
cons  antly  on  hand  by  day  and  by  night,  whose  relief 
took  place  as  regularly  as  the  men's. 

Among  the  new  contrivances  was  an  immense  iron 
shield,  called  a  "  bird-cage,"  extending  from  quarter  to 
quarter  around  the  rudder,  intended  as  a  guard  or  pro- 
tector from  the  cable  fouling  the  rudder  or  propeller,  as 
it  was  paid  out  from  the  ship. 

The  appearance  of  tlie  Agamemnon,  after  receiving  her 
portion  of  the  Cable,  was  described  as  follows,  by  a  cor- 
respondent of  the  L'^iidon  Times,  who  let  no  opportunity 
escape  for  disparaging  the  Niagara: 

"  Both  the  Agamemnon  and  Niagara  are  astonishingly 
deep.  The  lower  deck  ports  of  the  former  are  very  near 
the  water,  and  they  are  being  fastened  and  caulked  before 
starting.  But  iu  spite  of  this,  the  Agamemnon  carries  her 
share  infinitely  better  than  her  long  black-looking  rival 
of  the  United  States,  wliich  is  immersed  very  deeply 
indeed  by  her  load.  The  Agamemnon  only  draws 
26  feet,  or  actually  one  foot  less  than  her  draught  at 
starting  last  year :  but  even  at  this  depth  she  bears  her- 
self well,  and  looks  a  noble  ship,  and  one  that  should  be 
seaworthy  in  any  weather.  The  Niagara,  howjvcr, 
draws  no  less  than  27  feet  2  inches  aft,  and  this  great 
draughi  ciTecis  u  nuirveilous  and  most  unpleasant  change 
in  her  appearance,  since  it  leaves  her  s])ar  deck  scarcely 


The  Expedition  of  J  858.  125 

8  feet  above  the  water's  edge.  In  fact,  tlie  main  deck  is 
actually  below  the  water's  level,  and  if  her  lofty  bul- 
warks, some  nine  or  ten  feet  high,  were  taken  away,  she 
would  appear  to  be  almost  the  last  vessel  in  the  world  in 
which  it  was  desirable  to  venture  across  the  great 
j^.tlantic." 

The  stowage  of  the  Cab.  3  on  both  ships,  conducted 
slowly  and  with  great  care,  occupied  several  weeks,  and 
was  completed  in  the  early  part  of  May.  In  addition  to 
seven  hundred  miles  of  new  Cable  provided  by  the  Com- 
pany, condemned  wire  was  shipped  for  the  purpose  of 
undertaking  preliminary  '^eep-sea  experiments ;  so  that 
the  total  length  of  Cable  on  board  both  ships  on  the  18th 
day  of  May  was  3,008  miles,  distributed  as  follows : 

Miles. 

Niagara. — Good  Cabl'*. 1,488 

Experimental  Cable 22-1,510 

Agamemnon. — Good  Cable 1,477 

Experimental  Cable 17—1,494 

Aggregate. — Good  Cable 2,965 

Experimental  Cable 89 

Total 3,004 

The  new  paying-out  machines  were  placed  on  board 

receiving  the   Cable.    It  is  proper  to  state  that  the 


l4«        :  "* 


i 


126  The  .Expedition  of  1858. 

improved  plan  upon  which  these  machines  were  con- 
structed, belongs  to  Mr.  Hiram  Berdan,  of  New  York, 
who  furnished  the  Company  with  a  model,  a  gentleman 
of  remarkable  scientiHc  ability,  widely  known  as  the 
inventor  of  various  important  ratchanical  appliances.  The 
manufacturers  of  the  machines  were  Messrs.  Easton  and 
Amos,  Southwark. 

The  principle   of  the  operation   of  the  Paying-Out 
Machine  was  simple.     The  whole  of  the  important  part 
of  this  apparatus  consists  of  Appold's  self-regulating 
brake,  which  is  so  adjusted  and  constructed  as  always  to 
exert  a  certain  amount  of  resistance,  which  can  be  regu- 
lated by  the  revolution  of  the  wheels  to  which  it  is 
applied.     More  than  this  fixea  amount  of  resistance, 
whatever    it  may  be,   it   cannot    produce,   no    matter 
whether  the  machine  is  hot  or  dry,  or  covered  with 
sanri  •  and  neither  can  it  be  worked  at  less  than  this 
amount,  no  matter  to  what  extent  all  the  friction  sur- 
faces of  the  wooden  brake  itself  may  be  oiled,     ''^his 
well-known  brake  was  first  exhibited  in  the  Great  Exhi- 
bition of  1851,  in  the  new  labor  machine  constructed  for 
prison^?,  in  order  to  insure  a  certain  amount  of  work 
from  each  convict.      For  this   l-.rd-labor  purpose  the 
brake  is  still  extensively  employ  m      It  is  made  of  bars 
of  wood  laid  lengthwise  across  the  edge  of  the  wheel, 
over  which  it  laus  down  finnlr  nnrl  f,^  wl.^ok  u  :^  v„ij 
with  massive  weights  fixed  to  the  ends  of  levers.     It  is 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


127 


the  number  and  size  of  these  weights  which  regulate 
precisely  the  degref^  of  resistance  to  the  revolutions  of 
the  wheel,  and  which,  of  course,  enable  those  in  charge 
of  the  machine  to  fix  the  pressure  of  the  brake  at  what 
they  please,  and  when  so  fii.ed  nothing  can  alter  it.     In 
th<^.  new  Telegraphic  apparatus,  this  brake  is  attached 
over  two  drums  connected  with  the  two  main  grooved 
wheels,  round  which  the  actual  Cable  passes  in  running 
out.    The  latter  are  simply  broad,  solid,  iron  wheels, 
each  cut  with  four  very  deep  grooves,  in  which  the 
Cable  rests,  to  prevent  it  flying  up  or  "  overriding."     It 
passes  over  these  two  main  wheels,  not  in  a  double 
figure  of  eight,  as  in  the  old  ponderous  machine  of  four 
wheels,  but  simply  wound  over  one,  to  and  rounu.    le 
other,  and  so  on  four  timos,  till  it  is  finally  paid  down 
into  the  water.     Thus,  ihe  wire  was  wound  up  from  the 
hold  of  the  vessel,  i  ssed  four  times  over  the  double 
main   wheels,   connected    wi*^^h    the   brake  or   friction 
drun^,  past  the  register  which  indicated  the  rate  of 
paying  out  and  the  strain  upon  the  Cable,  and  then  at 
once  into  the  deep.      The  strain  at  which  the  Cable 
breaks  is  62  cwt.,  and  to  guard  aga'-st  any  chance  of 
mishap,  not  more  than  half  this  s!         was  to  be  put 
upon  it.     The  brakes,  as  a  rule,  were  fixed  to  give  a 
strain  of  about  16  cwt.,  and  the  force  required  to  keep 
the   machine   eroiner,    or   about  8   cwt.   more,  \^'as  the 
utmost  that  was  to  be  allow^ed  to  come  upon  the  wire. 


128 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


Thus,  tliereforo,  the  force  required  to  sever  the  cable 
eould  never  bo  exerted  even  by  aeeident  or  mishap,  no 
matter  who  might  be  in  charge  of  the  maeliine,  nor  now 
much  the  vessel  might  pitch  rmd  roll.     The  brake  of  the 
pjiving-out  machine  used  on  the  t^ccasion   of  the  first 
.v.v;mpt,  was  capable,  by  a  movement  of  tbe  hand,  of 
exerting  the  most  j)rodigious  resistance  to  the  turning 
of  the  wiieels,  and  this  formidable  invention  was  used 
with  so  little  care,  that  not  until  the  injury  was  irre- 
parable was  the  danger  seen.     The  chief  beauty,  how- 
ever, of  the  new  machine  was  that,  while  nothing  could 
add  to  the  fixed  strain  of  the  brakes,  any  one  could  in  a 
moment  ease  them  as  much  as  might  be  considered  neces- 
sary, and  until,  in  fact,  tlu>rc  was  no  resistance  at  all 
beyond  the  8-cwt.  strain  on  the  wire,  which,  as  we  have 
said,  was  required  to  keej)  i.  ■  machine  turning.     So 
sim{)le  was  the  operation,  that  a  child  could  remove  the 
wliule  resistance  of  the  brake  and  put  it  on  again  as 
often  :h  20  or  30  times  a  mirmte. 

For  this  ])urpose,  at  a  few  feet  from  ilie  paying-out 
machine,  the  Cable  passed  over  a  wheel  which  registered 
precisely  the  strain  in  j)ounds  at  which  llic  coil  w;is  run- 
ning out.  PV-ing  this  register,  was  a  stcfring  wheel, 
])recisely  similar  to  that  of  an  ordinary  vessel,  and  eon- 
iiffteil  in  the  same  way  with  compound  levers,  wliich 
acted  upon  tiie  brak-.'.  Tims  the  oHieer  in  charge  of  the 
ajiparatus  stood  by  this  wheel,  and  watched  the  register 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


29 


of  strain  or  pitch  of  the  vessel,  opened  the  brakes  by 
the  slightest  movement  of  his  hand,  letting  the  cable 
run  freely  a&  the  stern  rose.  The  same  officer,  however, 
could  not  by  any  possible  method  increase  the  actual 
strain  on  the  cable,  which  remained  always  according  to 
the  friction  at  which  the  break  was  at  first  adjusted  by 

the  engineer. 

The  value  and  simplicity  of  the  whole  apparatus  were 
made  so  manifest  that  it  waa  evident,  as  far  as  the  paying- 
out  machine  vfoa  concerned,  all  that  mechanical  skill  could 
effect  in  aid  of  the  great  undertaking  had  been  accom- 
plished. The  Niagara  and  the  Agamnnnon  were  each 
fitted  with  one  of  these  machines,  which,  whcii  operated 
by  steam,  could  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  under-running 
or  drawing  back  the  Cable  in  case  of  any  hitch  rendering 
Huch  operation  necessary. 

The  Niagara  and  A^inrnemnov,  having  been  fully 
l.repared  for  the  service,  sailed  from  Plymouth  for 
Queenstown,  Ireland,  on  Saturday,  May  29;  and  on  the 

same  day  put  to  sea  from  the  latter  port,  to  Uiidertake 

an  exprrimental  trip  for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  Cable. 
On  Iheaistof  May,  when  in  hvtitude  47°  12'  north, 

longitude  9°  32'  west,  the  de}.th  t)f  water  being  2,0:50 

fiithoMis,  a  series  of  dei>j)  sea  experiments  was  commenced. 

The  Niagara  and  Agamruwon  were  connected  by  hawsers, 
.  ,„..  '...  ,.t..,-T,   :i;_if-!!><  !'!■<•!!>  (■■u'h  uth<.r  Hoiiif  twelvi'  huu- 

dred  feet.     The  Cable  wius  i)aid  out  and  spliced  on  board 


30 


The  Exjieditiori  of  1858. 


tho  Ar/amemno»,  and  the  first  experiment  began.     Two 
nuK's  uf  Cable  were  paid  out,  when  the  wire  parted.    On 
the  following  day   (Tuesday,  June   1,)   the   Cable  was 
re-spliced,  and  three  miles  were  paid  out;  but  in  the 
attempt  to  haul  in,  tli.  wire  again  parted.  On  Wednesday, 
June  2,  the  Cable  was  i  gain  spliced,  but  in  a  few  minutes 
l)art(>d  on  board   the  Arjamemnon.     These  experiments 
having  been  continued  during  three  days  and  on.-  night, 
cetwed  with  this  last  attem])t,  and,  after  various  trials  of 
the  operations  of  splicing,  lowering  and  heaving-in  the 
wire,  the  squadron  set  sail  for  Plymouth,  whence  reports 
of  the  results  were  forwarded  to  th.   Directors  of  the 
Company. 

The  following  is  Capt.  Hudson's  official  report  of  the 
results  of  this  trip : — 

United  States  Steam  Fhigatk  Niagara, 
Plvmoutu  Sound  (End.),  June  3,  1858. 
S.n,~T  Imve  tli-  honor  to  roport  that  the  Telopraphic  S<,ua.Iro.,, 
r..ii8is(inf,.  „f  tlM.  Xiagura,  n.ul  II.M.  ships  Ai/amnnnon,    V.danJ, 
iuu\    Oonjon,  i,„l  to  s,.a  from   Piy.nouth  Sound  at  5  r.M.   „„   the 
l.'!»<h  ulf.,  ftu.l  proocci,.,!  to  lut.  17^  12'  north,  ami  lon^.  9"  .32'  west, 
wh.Mi  SYv  hov(>  to,  .M,I  tho  a.mjon  oblainod  two  .wIh  of  ^o.in.hn-^ 
with  h.T  <l.'(.p-!„.a  apparatus  and  f.mn.l  th."  doplh  of  water  to  ho 
tuvnty-fiv..  hnn.lr.Ml  a.ui   thirty  fathoms.      W,.  irnn.o,hat,.Iy  ro,,,- 
x'fiuvd  om-.xp,.nnH'nt-s  by  hanpin- the  .V/ajnm  an-l  Agmnrvwon 
toKotiuT  h.v  hnws,.rH,  st.-rn   t.,  nn.l  .li.stnni   from  ..ft.l.  uthor  m.nio 

twelvi<    hlin<]ri>ij    i<>i>>         Tl,,.    ...1 i  :  ■_         _     .       . 

..-.^j   ..;.      .,,r   oil    i>uiii    .tiiipM   was 

s|.lKed  together  ou  tho  Agamnnnon,  ui.l  the  Cah!o  '..wcred  down 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


131 


by  the  new  machinery  of  Mr.  Everett,  until  the  bight  of  it  was  laid 
on  the  bottom  ^{  the  ocean.  Some  additional  wire  was  paid  out, 
and  in  this  position  the  electric  current  was  found  perfect  througli 
the  whole  length  of  the  Cable,  about  three  thousand  miles. 

In  our  various  experiments  of  spUcing,  lowering  down,  and  heav- 
ing in  the  wire,  this  ship  and  the  Agamemnon  were  several  times  tied 
together  stern  on.  We  have  also  liad  a  fair  test  of  Mr.  Everett's 
m.chincry  for  lowering  and  heaving  up  the  Cable  from  the  ship,  as 
weU  as  miming  it  out  under  a  speed  of  five  or  six  knote.  Indeed, 
our  experiments,  occupying  three  days  and  almost  an  entire  night, 
have,  I  think,  entirely  settled  some  mooted  points  in  relation  to  the 
electric  current  passing  freely  at  great  deptlis  under  the  ocean. 

We  hope  to  have  in  our  additional  forty  miles  of  new  wire,  to 
coal  ship,  and  be  ready  to  leave  this  port  with  the  squadron,  on  the 
10th  inst.,  for  our  great  work.     The  officers  and  crew  enjoy  good 

health. 

I  am,  respectfully,  yours,  &c. 

W.  L.  Hudson,  Captain. 

Hon.  I.  ToccY,  Secretary  of  tlic  Navy. 


The  report  of  Chief  Engineer  Everett  was  as  fol- 
lows : — 

United  States  Steam  Frigate  Niagara, 

At  Sea,  Thursdxy,  June  3,  1858. 
Cyrus  W.  rhld,  General  Mnmujer  of  the  AOaniir   TeUgrnph  Com- 
jntny : 
Sir,— For  ihr  informatiop  >,f  yourself  and  the  Directors,  1  submit 
the  following  sUtc.ncnt  of  exp«'rimenta  made  during  tliis  trip. 

attnolu'd 


iuuuu-i^ 


I'  in.,   iJ*t*y 


ing^  2,530  fftthoins,  this  ship  and 


J 70  i.>(  XT     1.......  u"  yy  vv 

iiamevi) 


»32 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


stem  to  stern  by  a  .'lawser,  180  fathoms  of  Cable  were  veered  out 
for  the  end  to  be  t^ke.i  on  board  that  ship  to  be  sphced.     At  5.1 
o'clock,  signal  heing  n-ade  "AU  ready,"  in  accordance  with  pre- 
vails arrangement,  one  mile  of  Cable  was  veered  out.     We  then 
commencev.  hauling  it  in.     At  61  six  o'clock  had  recovered  half 
a  n:ile,  when  Mr.  Bkigiit's  message  was  icceived  saying  he  de- 
sired to  make  a  new  sphce.     At   9  40  received  message  "AU  is 
vady,"  a  .d  again  commenced  paying  out  as  before.     At  10  34  p.m. 
two  miles  were  out.     Afler  this  aiiiount  was  paid  out,  the  strain 
upon  the  cable  was  3,G00  to  4,100  pounds.     At  11  28  commenced 
hauling  in,  but  very  slowly,  as  the  strain  nearly  approached  the 
breaking  point  of  the  rope.     At  11  45  the  hawser  securing  the 
ships  together  parted  on  tlieJ^aTnernnora,  but  the  ships  were  retained 
nearly  in  the  same  relative  positions  by  working  the  engine  when 
required.     At  1  40,  having  hauled  in  one  mile,  5061  fathoms,  the 
contmuity  was  reported  broken.     We  continued  to  haul  in  until  2  15, 
when  the  end  came,  having  lost  of  the  two  miles  paid  out  110  fathoms. 
On  Tuesday,  at  8  40  a.m.,  the  ships  having  oeen  secured   and 
splice  made  ps  before,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  was  paid  out,  hawser 
released  and  ships  started  ahead  slov.ly,  at  the  same  time  the  Cable 
wa.s  allowed  to  run  quite  freely  until  two  {niles  had  been  paid  out, 
when  a  gradual  restraint  was  applied  until  an  additional  one  mile, 
387  fathoms,  had  been  paid  out,  making  m  all  three  miles,  387 
fathoms.     At   this   fnuo  (10  23,   commenced  hauling  in,  and  had 
I'vovered  190  fathoms  when  the  Cable  part«"d.      At  1  44  p.m.,  the 
two  -lids  of  the  iH-w  Cable  having  been  spliced,  we  paid  out  two 
and  a  half  mil.'s  at  a  rate  which  had  been  previously  agreed  upon, 
(he  elect rieianspa.s.sing  signals  through  the  whole  leii,  (h  of  (^ihle. 

At  6  15  P.M.,   the  Aytimemnnn  made  .signal  tiie  CaMe  wa.s  Darted. 

U'..  .>.  „  ,,_... 

.uiiuij^    icf  f<iriiiu  iiuuiing  up   '■.)    ,),  100 


pouihlH  duriii/:  the  rcceivMi''  uf  ll 


ir  lir-it  (juarter  ..f  m  mile.     At  9  20 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


133 


the  end  came  in.  having  lost  80  fathoms  on  the  two  and   a-half 
miles  paid  out 

Wednesday,  June  2,  at  7i  o'clock,  experimental  Cable  was  again 
spliced,  one  quarter  of  a  mile  paid  out,  hawser  released,  and  the 
ships  started  ahead.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Agamemnon  made 
signal  Cable  parted. '  We  continued  to  pay  out  until  three  and  a 
quarter  miles  were  out.  The  ship  was  then  backed — large  buoy 
and  watch  buoy  attached  to  the  Cable.  Ship  again  run  ahead,  and 
when  three  hundred  fathoms  had  been  paiu  out,  the  Cable  parted 
on  the  machinery.  The  phip  then  made  for  the  buoy,  with  the 
hope  of  recovering  the  end  of  the  Cable ;  but  while  hauHng  in  the 
watch  buoy,  the  large  buoy  suddenly  fell  over,  showing  that  it 
had  separated  from  the  Cable.  Upon  recovering  it  we  found  the 
rope  stopper  (3i^-inch  rope)  had  been  cut  off  by  the  Cable.  At 
12  55,  by  the  request  of  Mr.  Wooduouse,  we  paid  over  th''  end  of 
experimental  Cable  to  ascertain  how  rapidly  it  could  be  run  off  the 
coil  with  safety,  but  no  grea  er  speed  was  attained  than  seven 
knorta,  as  the  Cable  was  being  often  stranded  on  the  machine  by 
the  accumulation  of  tar  in  the  grooves,  which  was  so  hard  Ihat  no 
scraper  could  be  mads  to  remove  it  at  any  speed.  All  the  Cable 
used  to-day  was  that  brought  from  Greenwich  expressly  for  ex- 
lii'riruonting  and  was  lung  since  condemned.  Undoubtedly  it  has 
liofu  much  expo.sed  to  the  weather,  and  stowed  where  consider- 
able sand  or  dirt  has  been  thrown  upon  it.  With  the  Cable  whiih 
wa.H  recovered  \&Ht  year,  and  used  by  us  trying  the  experiment,  we 
liad  no  serious  difficulty  in  keeping  the  tar  out  of  the  grooves,  it 
being  comparatively  soft,  though  tlu^  amount  was  beyond  what 
I  could  have  believed.  Tho  amount  of  tar  upon  tliia  Cable  is 
much  greater  than  tliul  upon  tho  Cable  intemled  to  be  laid  di)wn  ; 
iiKTi'iiMc  I  bciirvc  we  cau  maivu  such  provision  as  liiht  it  siiaii  not 
become  a  serious  obstacle. 


•1 


134 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


The  result  of  this  experimental  trip  has  demonstrated  that  we 
have  the  capability  of  hauling  in  the  Cable  to  a  greater  extent  than 
I  had  expected.  Not  that  I  believe  any  great  distance  could  be 
recovered,  but  in  the  general  depth  of  vrater  where  the  Cable  is  to 
be  laid,  in  good  weather,  should  a  fault  go  overboard  before  the 
ship  could  be  stopped,  I  am  of  opinion  sufficient  of  the  Cable  may  be 
hauled  in  to  .emedy  the  fault, 

The  operation  of  the  machinery  generally  is  certainly  satisfactory, 
and  there  is  no  alteration  I  can  suggest  c^her  than  in  the  tar-scrapers, 
which  will  require  moditica  lions.  The  amount  of  tar  accumulating 
is  so  much  beyond  what  could  have  been  expected  from  last  year's 
experience,  owing  to  the  repeated  coatings  it  has  received  since  it 
was  unloaded  from  this  vessel  last  October,  that  extraordinary 
provision  will  be  required.  A.3  regards  the  attaching  of  buoys,  we 
can  attach  them,  but  at  a  great  risk  of  breaking  the  Cable,  and  they 
should  not  be  used  in  deep  water,  except  &s  a  last  resort. 

The  arrangements  for  coils,  provisions  for  leading  the  rope,  and 
all  tlie  other  many  particulars  incidental  to  this  work,  which  have 
been  under  the  lireotion  of  Mr.  Woodhouse,  do  not  require  any 
alteration,  and  fully  meet  the  requu-ements.  I  am,  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

W.    E.    EVERBTT. 


But  a  single  week  elapsed  from  the  return  of  the  fleet 
from  this  tri]),  when  the  Expedition  set  sail  from  Ply- 
mouth for  the  second  great  ocean  trial. 

A  distinguished  Russian  naval  ofTiccr  sailed  in  the 
Niagara^  the  reason  of  whose  visit  is  explained  by  the 

f()llowi!i0'   h>tt(>r' — 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


133 


Legation  of  the  Ukitkd  States, 
St.  Petersbubo,  Monday,  March  22,  1858. 

Captain, — ^I  have  the  honor  of  making  you  acquainted  with  the 
bearer  of  this  letter.  Lieutenant  the  Baron  Boi-e,  Aid-de-camp  to  his 
Imperial  Highness  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine. 

Although  he  will  need  no  special  recommendation  from  this  quar- 
ter, there  is  a  duty  devolving  on  me  in  the  presen'.  instance  which 
makes  it  proper  that  I  should  briefly  notice  the  object  of  his  visit  to 
the  Niagara.  It  is  doubtless  known  to  you  akeady  tliat  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  on  the  appUcation  of  Mr.  Stoeckl,  the 
Russian  Minister  at  Washington,  has  consented  tliat  one  officer  of 
the  Imperial  Na.vy  of  Russia,  such  a  one  as  hia  Imperial  Highness 
the  Grand  Duke  Constantine  might  be  pleased  to  designate,  should 
go  ou  board  the  Niagara  to  witness  the  laying  of  tlic  electric  Cable 
between  Europe  and  America. 

In  consequence  of  tliat  consent,  which  I  have  reason  to  beheve 
was  most  cheerfully  given.  Lieutenant  Boye  has  been  designated  by 
liis  Imperial  Highness  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine,  for  the  pur- 
pose which  you  have  before  you.  It  has,  Uierefore,  become  my 
duty,  in  accordance  with  the  advices  from  the  Department  of  State, 
tliat  I  should  furnish  the  officer  with  a  suiUble  letter  of  recommen- 
dation to  the  Commander  of  the  Niagara. 

The  duty  thus  incurred  may  be  considered,  perhaps,  as  alreadv 
fulfilled  in  the  statement  I  have  just  made,  nothing  more  being  re- 
quirer.,  I  am  sure,  by  way  of  ins-iring  Lieutenant  Boyk  tlie  recep- 
tion to  which  he  is  justly  entitled. 

The  circumstances  which  have  led  to  the  selection  of  Lieutenant 
Boye  for  the  mission  with  which  he  is  charged,  should  justify  the 
addition  of  a  few  n-imuka  in-h 
fail  to  see  in  the  arrangement  1 


uiUiSi 


irMI    nnf 


.36 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


i»g  proof  of  tlie  friendly  relations  which  subsists  between  the  Go- 
vernment of  his  Imperial  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  and  that 
of  the  United  States.  Such  a  view  would,  of  itself,  enhance  the 
pleasure  of  receiving  on  the  deck  of  your  vessel  an  officer  of  the 
Imperial  Navy. 

Russia,  though  at  some  distance  from  the  shores  of  the  great  ocean 
which  it  is  to  be  hoped  may  soon  be  connected  by  the  electric  Cable, 
is  not  indifferent  to  the  subUme  work  in  which  you  are  about  to 
engage.  She  sends  as  her  representative,  an  officer  of  rank  and 
abilities,  one  high  in  the  confidence  of  his  distinguished  chief,  the 
Grand  Admiral  of  the  Russian  Navy,  that  he  may  be  witness  to 
an  undertaking  which,  if  successful,  wiU  be  hailed  with  joyful  satis- 
faction throughout  the  civilised  world. 

la  recommending  Lieutenant  the  Baron  Boye,  to  your  kind  con- 
sideration, I  not  only  carry  into  effect  the  wishes  of  President  Bu- 
CHAKAN  on  the  subject,  but  at  the  same  time  discharge  a  duty  in  Uie 
highest  degree  agreeable  to  myself. 

Your  position  in  the  naval  service  of  our  country  must  have  given 
you  opportunity  for  'earning  something  of  the  courtesies  which  offi- 
cers of  the  United  States  Navy  have  been  accustomed  to  receive 
from  those  of  the  Russian  Navy,  when  the  ships  of  the  two  nations 
have  come  together  on  distant  seas;  an.l  no  one,  I  may  say.  Cap- 
tain, more  fully  appreciates  the  value  of  such  courtesies,  or  knows 
better  how  to  return  them  tlian  yourself. 
Respectfully, 

Your  obedient  serv't, 

Thos.  n.  Sevmocr. 
To  Capt.  W.  L.  Hudson,  U.S.  Steamer  Niagara. 

On  Tluirsdjiy,  Juiu^  10,  tlio  oiitiro  Toloirr;,!-bic  Fleet 
steamed  out  of  Pljnioutli  Harbor.     The  Squadron  con- 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


»37 


sisted  of  four  vessels — the  United  States  steam  frigate 
Niagara,  with  TLB.M.  paddle-wheel  8tearaei»  Valorous 
as  tender;  II.B.M.  steam-frigate  Agamemnon,  with 
H.B.M.  paddle-wheel  steamer  Gorgon  as  tender. 

The  Government  of  England  detached  two  naval 
engineers  from  actual  duty,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
in  taking  charge  of  the  machinery  on  board  tho  Aga- 
memnon. Mr.  Amos,  of  the  firm  of  Easton  &  Amos  (who 
man  ifactured  the  machinery),  and  who  had  given  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  under- 
taking, was  also  present  on  board  the  Agamemnon,  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting  in  the  regulation  of  the  machinery. 

The  arrangements  on  board  the  Niagara,  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Messrs.  Everett  &  Woodhouse  were  in  charge 
of  the  operations,  with  Captain  Kell  as  an  assistant, 
and  Messrs.  Follansbee  an..  McElwell  in  charge  of 
the  machinery. 

After  having  been  three  days  at  sea,  the  Expedition 
was  overtaken  by  a  fearful  gale,  which  ^-^"tinucd  with- 
out intermission  for  nine  days.  On  th3  seventh  day  of 
this  heavy  weather,  the  ships,  which  continued  to  keep 
together,  had  to  part  company,  and  the  Agamenmon  was 
obliged  to  scud  before  the  wind  for  thirty -six  hours;  her 
cojJs  got  adrift,  and  a  coil  of  her  Cable  shifted,  so  that 
her  c^aptain  for  some  time  entertained  serious  ap{)rehen- 
siona  for  hor  safety,  and  from  the  immense  strain  her 
waterways  were  forced  open,  and  one  of  her  ports  was 


138  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

broken.     Two  of  the  sailors  were  severely  injured,  and 
one  of  the  marines  lost  his  reason  from  fright.      Yet 
such  wa^  the  consummate  skill,  good  seamanship,  and 
intrepidity  of  her  commander,  Captain  Priddie,  that  he 
was  enabled  to  bnng  her  to  the  appointed  rendezvous 
lat  52°  2',  long.  33°  18'.     The  Niagara  rode  out  the 
storm  gaUantly,  having  only  carried  away  her  jib-boom 
and  one  wing  of  the  figure-head,  the  American  Eagle 
The  results  of  this  severe  gale  on  board  the  two  frigates 
showed  the  gross    injustice  that    had  been  dore°the 
Niagara  by  the  English  writer,  whose  remarks  about  her 
before  she  left  Plymouth,  we  have  quoted. 

All  the  vessels  having  at  length  arrived  at  their  cen- 
tral point  of  junction,  the  first  splice  of  the  Cal  -  was 
made  cu  the  26th.     After  having  paid  o-  t  two  and  a 
half  miles  each,  owing  to  an  accident  on  board  the 
Niagara,  the  Cable  parted.     The  sh.^s  having  agam  met 
the  sphce  was  made  good,  and  they  commenced  to  pay 
out  the  Cable  a  second  time ;   but  after  they  had  each 
paid  out  forty  mUes,   it  was  reported  that  the   cur- 
rent was  broken,  and  no  communication  could  be  made 
between  the  ships.     Unfortunately,  in  this  instance,  the 
breakage  must  have  occurred  at  the  bottom,  as  the  elec- 
tricians, from  the  fine  calculations  which  their  sensitive 
instruments  allowed  them  to  make,  were  able  to  declare 
sueh^to  have  been  tlie  fact,  even  before  the  vessels  came 
tot^.-thcr  again.     Having  ca^st  off  this  loss,  they  met  for 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


»39 


the  third  tune,  and  recovered  the  connexion  of  the  Cable 
on  the  28th.  They  then  started  afresh,  and  the  Niagara, 
Having  paid  out  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of 
Cable,  all  on  board  ciitert?>.iiied  the  most  sanguine  antici- 
pations of  success,  whf  1  the  fatal  announcen  )nt  was 
made  upon  Tuesdr.y,  the  29th,  at  9  p.m.,  that  the  electric 
current  ha  ..eased  to  flow.  As  the  necessity  of  abandon- 
ing the  project  for  the  present  was  now  only  too  manifest, 
it  was  considered  that  the  opportunity  might  as  well  be 
availed  of,  to  test  the  strength  of  the  Cable.  jl\  ccordingly , 
the  Niagara,  with  all  her  stores,  was  allowed  to  swing  to 
the  Cable,  and,  in  addition,  a  strain  of  four  tons  was 
placed  upon  the  brakes,  yet,  although  it  was  blowing 
fresh  at  the  time,  the  Cable  neld  her  as  if  she  had  been 
at  anchor,  for  over  an  hour,  when  a  heavj  pitch  of  the 
sea  snapped  the  Cable,  and  the  Niagara  bore  away  for 
Ireland.  Eefore  starting,  an  arrangement  was  made 
that  should  any  accident  occur  in  giving  out  the  Cable 
before  the  ships  had  gone  one  hundred  miles,  they  were 
to  return  to  their  starting-place  in  mid-ocean ;  but  that, 
in  case  that  distance  should  have  been  exceeded,  before 
any  casualty  happened,  they  should  maLe  for  Queens- 
town.  In  accordance  with  this  understanc  ing,  the  Nia- 
gara, having  made  one  hundred  and  nine  miles  before 
this  mishap,  returned  to  Queenstown,  arriving  July  5. 


'1    Mii      nir/%r»+a     r\t      +l-»ia     tt 


■r-»  nm  nrhr\c3 


o  A 1 1     fix*  1  -1 1  ack     o  T»p     T»tior\Tn  Ori      1 W 


connected  form,  in  the  following 


'4°  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

JOl^RXAL   OP  rUK   yoYAGE    OF  THE    NIAGARA. 

Tlm,.d.y,  June  10,_At  U  a.m.  cast  off  from  the 
moo„ng.bu.y  in  Pl^,„outh  Sound,  and  proeeeded  to  sea 
m  company  with  the  A,ur,.,n„on.  Valorous,  and  Gordon. 
\V  eather  fair ;  at  night,  nearly  calm. 

Friday,  June  U.-Calm,  and  a  smooth  sea.  Captain 
Uvuso^  sent  a  boat  to  the  Asame,unon,  tendering  a  tov. 
which  was  declined.  T.he  Capuin  of  the  ^,a,„™„„; 
^tated,  that  he  would  accept  the  oflcr  if  the  light  breezes 
held  a  day  or  two  longer.  The  progress  made  this  day 
was  very  slow,  the  N^jara  continually  stopping  for  the 
bquadron  to  come  up.  Weather  calm;  lat.  49°  12' • 
lor,,.  6»53'.  ' 

Saturday,  June  12.-Light  N.N.E.  winds  and  plea- 
s^int ;  the  J^amm«M,  Valorou,,  and  Oorjon  made  all 
sad  poi^sible;  the  A'ic^.ara  set  no  sails.  Lat  49»  42' • 
long.  10°  12'. 

Sunciy,  June  13,-Commenced  clear,  but  soon  >. 
came  squally;   wind  hauled  to  S.S.W.     The  AYaaam 
«et  topsails  and  shut  off  steam.    The  wind  freshened 
and  ram  set  in.    Lost  sight  of  the  Valorous  and  Gordon. 
The  wmd  mcreasing,  the  AVajrara  triple-reefed  topsails 
and  reefed  foresail.    The  Agamemnon  w.os  at  this  time 
one  mile  distant.     Lat.  50°  11';  long.  13"  IT 
^Monday,  June  14. -Squally,  rainy  weather:    win,] 
o.  W .,  Darometer  lell  from  30.35  to  29.17 ;  wind  increased 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


141 


to  a  gale,  with  a  high  sea.  The  Niagara  close-reefed 
topsails,  furled  mizen-topsail,  set  storm  fore-staysail, 
and  furled  foresail,  keeping  within  one  and  a  half  miles 
of  the  Agamemnon  throughout.  Lat.  50°  22';  long. 
15°  57'. 

Tuesday,  June  15.  —  fccrong  gales  from  S.S.W.,  the 
Niagara  under  easy  sail ;  at  4  A.M.  wind  moderated,  and 
ship  made  more  sail.  Before  night  the  wind  again  in- 
creased, and  the  ship  was  put  under  clos"  .  fed  fore  and 
niaintopsails,  with  storm  fore-stu}  sail.  Lat.  51°  22'; 
long.  18°  47'. 

Wedne- day,  June  16. — Strong  gales;  the  Agamemnon 
in  company ;  the  Valorous  and  Gorgon  out  of  sight. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  day  wind  died  away,  and  the 
Niagara  made  more  sail.  Distance  sailed,  by  log,  lo5 
miles,  on  N.W.  by  N.  course.     ;^ay  ended  misty  and. 

foggy- 
Thursday,  June  17  —Weather  still  foggy,  with  stiff 

breeze;  the  Agamemnon  in  company;  exchanged  sig- 
nals. During  the  day  the  Niagara  passed  a  ship's  boat, 
bottom  up.  The  speed  of  the  ship  was  five  knots  an 
hour,  with  small  head  of  steam  and  little  sail.  Disco- 
vered a  strange  sail  to  the  south w\ard.  Lat.  52°  35'; 
long.  23°  16'.     One  week  at  sea. 

Friday,  June  18.— The  day  commenced  clear,  with 


strong  brcLv.t's  fiuiu  S.  VV .  Wy   o. ,    inc  biiip  u 

sail  and  but  little  steam;  the  Agamemnon  in  company; 


142  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

the  Valorous  and  Gorgon  invisible ;  lat.  53°  18'  •  Ion? 

Saturday,  June  19— Weather  overcast ;  wind  strong  ; 
signaled  a  clipper-ship  bound  west.     This  day  all  hands 
on  board  the  Ma^ara  were  mustered,  and  the  Articles 
of  War  were  read  to  the  officers  and  crew.     At  noon 
strong  winds  from  W.S.W.     Lat.  54°  23' ;  long.  27°  50'. 
Sunday,  June  20.-Heavy  gales  and  a  high  ma,  the 
ship  under  very  short  sail;  the  Agamemnon  one  and  a 
half  miles  distant,  laboring  terribly ;  from  4  a.m.  to  noon 
gale  increases  in  violence ;  the  squalls  come  more  heavy 
and  more  frequent;  the  Agamemnon  telegraphs,  "We 
are  going  to  wear  ship ;"  she  wears  -ound  on  other  tack- 
^ind  W.S.W.;    the  Magara  does  the  same;    the  Aga- 
memnon  again   telegrapuH,    -  We  have  lost  our  stern- 
guard;"  the  Niagara,  at  this  time  rolling  heavy,  brings 
the  large  iron  buoys  lashed  outside  under  water;  the 
lashings  to  the  starboard  buoy  part,  and  carrv  away  the 
cranes  which  support  the  buoys  on  each  quarter,    'it  is 
found  necessary  to  cut  adrift  the  starboard  one  and  let  it 
drift  away ;  the  port  buoy  is  with  (liffioulty  s(<eur.>d  and 
taken  on  board;  at  4  p.m.  the  A.  signalises,   "  We  shall 
wear  ship;"  both  shij.s  rolling  heavy,  A.  mere  especi- 
ally; two  straiiLT   vessels  in  sight;  en.ls  heavy  gules; 
the  barometer  falls  down  to  29.19  ;  at  noon  lat.' 54'  12'' 
and  long.  29"  36'  W.  ' 

Mondry,  June  21. -Heavy  gales,  high  sea,  b.,f  clear 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


H3 


weather;  wind  S.W.  by  S.;  at  6^  a.m.  a  very  heavy 
sea  strikes  the  jib-boom,  which  carries  away  the  flying 
jib-boom  and  all  attached  to  it.  The  sail  and  riggers, 
however,  are  saved.  The  Agamemnon  distant  one  and  a 
half  miles ;  she  ia  observed  to  have  a  heavy  list,  laboring 
very  heavy ;  she  is  suddenly  lost  to  our  view  ;  we  con- 
jecture she  must  have  wore  ship  without  signalising.  At 
noon  there  is  no  prospect  of  its  abating ;  the  Niagara 
hove  to,  no  observation ;  lut.  by  account  54° ;  25°  N. 
long.,  barometer  29°  21',  air  53°,  water  51°.  From  noon 
to  6  P.M.  blows  the  same ;  at  8  p.m.  it  moderates,  and  at 
midnight  but  little  wind,  and  the  sea  becomes  smooth. 

Tuesday,  June  22. — Fine  weather,  smooth  sea,  wind 
moderate  from  the  westward  ;  chased  a  ship  bound  west, 
mistook  her  for  the  Agamevmon.  Noon  furled  all  sail, 
the  wind  light  and  dead  ahead ;  lat.  53",  42',  long.  30"  17' 
west.  From  noon  to  midnight  same  variation  of  compass 
3i  points  W. ;  local  attracticm  23°  W. ;  position  to  start 
from  S.S.W.  three-fourths  W.  true,  distant  155  mili's. 

Wednesday,  June  23.— Clear  weather,  smooth  sea, 
light  breezes  from  W.  by  b. ;  steaming  <m\y  ;  lat.,  noon, 
51"  50'  K,  long.  32"  48' ;  at  p.m.  made  two  sail  ahead 
tliat  soon  prove  to  Ixi  the  Valorous  and  (lorgon  ;  the 
Valorous  lowers  boat  and  boards  us;  congratulations  pa.'ss 
on  escaping  the  fury  of  the  gale  ;  both  these  shij)^  sustain 
some  uama;j:e;  tlie  three  of  liie  Sijuai Iron  on  iinnM  n(>ar 
the   position ;    all   heave   to,  to   remain   stationary    till 


»44  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

Agan^mnon  arrives ;  at  miduight  it  is  foggy,  neither  the 
\  ahroits  nor  Oorffon  to  be  seen. 

Thursday,  June  24.-The  day  commences  foggy  •  ship 
headn,g  W.N.W.;  we  drift  rapidly  to  north  at  rite  of 
two  miles  per  hour  per  log,  yet  at  noon  find  we  have 
experienced  a  powerl.il  south  current  of  35  miles     No- 
thing  in  sight  at  noon,  5V  15',  long.  23°  3'.  After  obtain- 
ing  tiie  latitude  the  Niagara  squared  yards,  made  sail 
run  before  the  wind,  in  ord.r  to  recover  lost  latitude! 
At  71  It  commences  to  blow  and  increases  to  a  gale  • 
furled  mizen-topsail   and  foresail ;  put  ship  under  snug 
sail ;  the  wind  at  N.W.      Nothing  seen  of  any  of  the 
S(piadron  ail  this  day. 

Friday,  25th,  A.  M.-Strong  gales,  clear  weather  ;  ship 
mider  clce-reefed  fore  and  inain-toi>sails  and  storm  fore- 
staysail;  considerable  sea.  Noon,  no  observation:  lat. 
by  account,  52^3',  long,  by  account,  33°  18'.  At  noon 
-inured  away  t.)  run  nortl,  to  make  up  lost  northing,  and 
also  to  search  aftvr  the  i.b.sent  8(,uadron  ;  wind  S.S.W.; 
cl.-ar.  At  7.  p.m.  blowing  strong;  close-reefed  the  toj)-' 
sails,  furled  foresail  and  mi/.n-fopsa.],  wore  ship  and 
stood  S.W. 

Friday,  June  2r,.-Stnnig  gale.,  but  clear,  some  sea- 
""">,  lat.  52^  3',  l,>ng.  33^  IH  W.,  at  1  p.m.  .aw  3  sail 
ahead.  Soon  diseoven>d  they  were  tlr>  Telegraj.h 
Squadron.  Furl.-d  all  s.il  and  stood  f„r  tl.rm.  Th.,> 
weatluT  became  U-autiful.    All  the  8<iuadrou  have  boat^ 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


'45 


down,  visiting  each  other's  ships.  The  Captain  of  the 
Agamemnon  informs  us  experienced  same  gale  we  did — 
suffered  heavy  damages — the  entire  coil  of  Telegraph 
Cable  had  shifted ;  his  ship  was  in  a  very  critical  situa- 
tion, and  he  must  re-coil  a  portion  of  the  Cable  before  it 
could  be  ready  for  splicing,  and  could  not  be  ready 
before  24  hours.     Day  ends  very  fine  in  every  respect. 

Saturday,  June  26. — Calm,  beautiful  weather;  Squad- 
ron close  together;  at  8  a.m.  a  telegraphic  message  from 
Ag'^meynnon  says :  "  Will  be  ready  to  splice  at  9  o'clock." 
Preparations  are  immediately  made ;  hawsers  sent  on 
board  of  her,  as  also  the  end  of  the  Telegra})h  Cable. 
Everything  auspicious  and  favorable — lat,  52°  2',  long. 
33°  18'  W.  We  are  15  days  out  at  noon.  At  1  o'clock 
\vc  commence  paying  out  Cable.  At  3  o'clock  we  had 
200  fathoms  out;  it  is  calm ;  the  haws(>r  is  cast  off  from 
tlie  Agamemnon^  and  the  Niagara  commences  to  pay  out 
in  earnest,  as  does  the  Agamemnon.  At  3  45  jiLst  tlirec 
miles  of  Cable  had  been  paid  out,  the  pressure  2,360 
])Ound8,  when,  at  that  instjint,  as  the  Cable  was  corning 
out  of  the  circle,  the  Cable  got  out  of  one  of  the  grooves 
of  the  wheel  and  into  another  groove,  and,  before  it 
could  be  HberatCvl,  it  ])arted,  by  being  cut  by  a  tir-H(;raper 
attached  to  the  wheel.  Thus  the  three  miles  from  our 
ship  was  lust,  and  probably  the  same  amount  from  the 

Ana^nrmnrm    nn  nn  flniiht.   shn  diil   nfit    mjikn  nnv  nttptntif. 


to  save  it     The  ships  then  again   neartd  each  other; 


'4"  The  Expedition  of  J858. 

spliced  again  at  5  r.„,  took  in  haw,cr,  and  commenced 
paymg  out  under  the  most  favontble  prospect,,-   sea 
smooth  aa  a  mill-pond,  and  weather  calm.    The  si.ht  i, 
beauty.,.     The  G^yon  heads  the  Ni.,„a-.,U  ^2ro,. 
i.eads  the  Againemnon.     We  follow  the  N.W  i  N -the 
Ajamemnon  a  S.E.  i  S.  course;  our  rate  of  spe-ed,' three 
m.les  per  hour.    At  8  p.m.,  12  miles  and  270  fathoms 
have  run  out  most  beautifully,  the  pressure  being  very 
uniform  at  2,400  pound.,.    The  same  continues  till  mid! 
night,  when  this  day  ends. 

Sunday,  June  27.-Th..  sea  continues  smooth;  wmd 
hght,  from  the  westward;  coun«  and  rate  of  .sailing  the 
same.     At  1  a.m.  the  electricians  report  the  continuity 
ha.^  <=e»«'-    Every  pe„on  who  hea,^  this  report  is  struck 
w.tn  eon.,ttrnatio„,  for  everything  seemed  progres,,ingso 
-y  fine  and  .satisfactory;  the  dynamometc-r  indicating 
-,400  poun,Is;  the  roton.eter  35  miles,  270  fathon.s,  .•« 
l-ng  out.     Although  this  di.scovery  is   reported  at  1 
"  Ccic,  A.>,.,  the  Cable  is  continue,!  to  K-  pai.l  out  slowlv 
nn.     the  ship's  speed    is   reduced,   until  ^  .,.„.     -Phe 
table  then  out  is  4;i  n.iles,  280  fathon,.s.     The  ,lv„.„„„ 
.net<-r  r.scs  from  .3,00,,  to .3,200  and  3,400  pounds'  shin's 
l>«'grcss   is  slowed  down  ,0  one  ,nile  p,.,-  hour'.     The 
-.g"u-  ,s.set  in  „,ot,on  to  haul  in  Cable,  and  ll.at  ,xsk  is 

c<)niint<ncf(]  .-if  ,-)l  o'clock'      Tl.n  n.i  i 

^,  ^  ouuck.      I  ho  Cai)lo  comes  m  slowly 

t'H>  prcs,suro  increaso.s   fo  -l.'iOO  pounds,  .t  wl..,.. .ll 

the  Cabh.  .naps,  nn.l  :.ll  oxcvpt  about  thrce-r.urths'or'a 


The  Expedition  of  1858.  147 

mile  hanging  out  is  lost.     What  little  we  succeed  in 
hauling  in  is  very  much  snarled  and  badly  kinked.    The 
very  long-jawed  wire  is  nearly  separated  from  the  inside 
covering  of  gutta  percha,  and  is  totally  unfit  for  any 
service.     The  ship  is  now  put  head  about  towards  the 
point  of  starting,  in  order  to  re-connect  the  Cable  the 
third  time  with  the  Aganumnun.     The  opinion  prevails 
on  board  our  ship,   ounded  on  some  trials  and  scientific 
principles,  that  the  cause  of  failure  of  continuity  must 
have  occurred  close  to  or  on  board  the  Agamemnon.    All 
confidence  is  given  that  actual  trial  proves  the  break  did 
not  occur  on  our  side  of  the  splice,  but  that  it  was  between 
the  splice  and  the  Agamemnon.     We  were  at  this  time 
84  miles  apart,  and  the  splice  was  suf)posed  to  be  mid- 
w'iiy.    At  10^  A.M. — it  is  calculated  we  are  on  ihe  precise 
spot   from  whence  we  started  to  lay  the  Cable."    The 
Agamemnon  is  not  here,  but  the  Gorgon  is.      At  11  a. w. 
lowered  a  boat,  and  boarded  the  ship  ^/wr  Munroe^  four- 
teen (lays  from   Liverpool,   bounl  for  Boston.     Noon, 
light  N.W.  wind  and  a. smooth  sea— lat.  51='         north, 
long.  32°  4(3' west.    Afternoon,  calm,  sea  smool.    I     'kod 
up  fires.     From  midnight  till  noon  fine  weather. 

Monday,  Junt  '>P— At  I  r.M.  discovrrcd  three  sail; 
soon  made  ^hc'monr,  to  bi^  the  iV'rgraph  Stpiadron.  At 
4i  TWf.  all  three  sent  boats  to  the  Niagara.  At  fi  P.M. 
.-;:;;.  iur.vsrr  ;un'i  v  ai'ic  Tk  Agduift/inon ;  puKl  out  2iU 
f'.ithonw    Cahle  ;     indicator    standing   al    f)82-lt]8,    and 


m 


-^1 


m 


148  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

previous  to  paying  out  any,  it  was  582-100  ;  wind  quite 
light,  at  W.N.W. ;  all  sail  is  furled  on  board  both  ships 
—the  Valorous  in  position  ahead  of  the  Arjamemnon,  and 
the   Gorgon  ahead  of  the  Niagara;   the   Valorous  and 
Agamemnon  heading  S.E.  -J  S.— the  Oorgon  and  Niagara 
N.AV.  %  N. ;  our  supposed  depth  of  water,  1,670  fathoms, 
at  6  13  P.M. ;  we  start  for  our  respective  destinations  at 
8  2  P.M.  precisely,  there  i?  just  three  nautical  miles  of 
Cable  paid  out;  at  this  time  and  quantity  out  the  dyna- 
mometer first  shows  an  indication  of  pressure  of  2  100 
pounds ;  up  to  midnight  the  speed  of  ship  is  3i  of  a  mile 
per  hour— (by  log  hove  every  fifteen  minutes)— while 
the  Cable  speed  is  5i  miles  per  hour;    the  pressure  is 
very  regular  and  uniform  at  2,200  pounds ;  ends  beauti- 
ful— the  Gorgon  close  to  us. 

Tuesday,   June  29.— Commences  beautiful   weather, 
sea  perfectly  smooth,  wind  light,  at  W.S.W. ;    course, 
N.W.  I  N.;  speed,  4  miles  per  hour,  Cable  going  out 
iinely.     At  4  A.  m.  the  Niagara  has  paid  out  48  nautical 
miles;  at  8  a.m.,  08  nautical  miles  and  200  fathoms. 
The;  actual  distance  run   from  point  of  starting  is  46 
miles,  pressure,  2,200   pounds;  from  8  o'clock  to  noon, 
rate  of  sailing  is  4  knots.     At  noon,  ♦•i^  amount  of  Cable 
out  is  39  miles,  8«)0  futhnms;  pressure,  2,200  pounds; 
fine    weather,  He;i    smooth;  ban-mel.-r  80°38';  air,  56': 
wuUt,  58^ ;  lat.  54°  4' :  long.  85"  2 '.    'jM,,.  ]-a\u^v  -art  of  this 
24  hours  is  pleasant,  wind  at  W.S.W.— speed  of  ship  4 


I  Wi 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


149 


knots.  At  4  o'clock  one  hundred  and  eleven  miles  and  600 
fathoms  (nau+ical  miles)  have  been  pa.  J  out.  The 
Niagara  has  scarcely  any  motion,  and  Cable  runs  out 
beautifully.  At  9  hours  and  10  minutes  vue  electi  icians 
from  their  station  give  the  fatal  word,  "  The  rontinuity 
has  stopped.''''  140  miles,  570  fathoms  of  Cable  out  up  to 
this  hour.  From  this  time  till  27  minutes  after  12  mid- 
night, the  speed  of  the  vessel  was  as  slow  as  possible, 
and  the  Cable  paid  out  as  little  as  it  tould  be.  It  had 
previously  been  understood,  in  the  event  of  ihe  failure 
of  the  continuity,  six  hours  should  elapse  before  paying- 
out  should  cease,  or  Cable  suffered  to  part.  Meanwhile, 
rockets  were  sent  up,  which  the  Oorgon  answered,  and 
she  sent  a  boat  to  us.  So  ends  this  day.  N.  B. — The 
actual  distance  run  since  leaving  the  Agamemnon  is  107 
miles,  up  to  midnight. 

Wednesday,  June  30. — The  Niagara  is  riding  wholly 
by  the  Telegraph  Cable ;  speed  of  ship  stopped  ;  no  mo- 
tion to  engine,  and  no  paying  out  of  Cable  ;  pressure  is 
applied  in  order  to  have  Cable  })art,  for  it  is  now  useh'ss, 
but  all  to  no  purpose;  4,900  pounds  are  :tp})lied,  and  the 
weight  of  several  persons  upon  the  breaks;  at  12  31 
A.M.  the  Cable  parts  out  from  the  stem ;  an  attem])t  is 
made  to  haul  it  in,  but  in  vain  ;  the  axe  had  to  be  ap- 
plied, and  144  miles,  800  fathoms  Cable,  is  lost  on  this 
•  >•!:■!  Tlnm  f!Hl.«d  tri'd  No.  8.  The  Cautain  of  the 
Oorgon  now  return  .  to  his  vetssel,  while  Captain  Iludson 


1r 


I 


150  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

issues  his  orders  to  up  helm  and  put  on  steam,  and  our 
ship  is  under  full  headway,  bound  for  Cork  harbor, 
Ireland  and  at  8  a.m.  set  topsails.  Afternoon,  stiff 
breezes;  driving  more  ahead;  furled  all  sail.  From 
this  time  till  midnight  heavy  rain.  Eate  of  sailing  8i 
knots  per  hour. 

Thursday,  July  l.-Commences  th^^nk,  rainy  weather 
at  4  A.M. ;  set  double-reefed  topsails  and  foresail ;  speed 
9^  miles  per  hour;  course  E.  by  S.  on^half  S  ■  wind 
SM.hy  W.,  lat.  52°  26';  long.  29°  40'.  Afternoon, 
overcast  and  squally ;  considerable  rain  at  times ;  mid- 
night rainy. 

Friday,  July  2.  — Misty,  rainy  weather;  moderate 
winds  from  W.N.W. ;  course  E.  by  S. ;  sailed  by  log 
258  miles;  lat.  51°  55' ;  long.  23°  2'. 

Saturday,  July  3.— Fine,  steady  breezes ;  sea  smooth  ; 
all  sad  set  and  full  steam;  speed  10  knots;  sailed  from 
noon  to  noon  230  miles;  course  E.  by  S.,  half  S  •  hit 
61°  15'  N.  long.  17°  27'  W.,  23  days  from  Plymouth; 
ends  the  same. 

Sunday,  July  4.— Fine  breezes  from  W.N.W.  throuoh- 
out  the  day;  lat  51°  17'  N. ;  long.  IF  54'  W. ;  at  6  F.u. 
made  Cape  Clear  Light,  distant  10  miles. 

Monday,  July  5.-Stiff  breezes;  ship  lying  by  for 
pilot;  at  2  A.M.  took  pilot  on  board;  at  5  a.m.  came 
to  anchor,  abrciust  of  QueonsU)wn,  Cork  harbor. 

In  layi.ig  the  Cable,  every  possible  care  and  attention 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


151 


was  given  to  the  eflfort,  and  every  preventive  was  used 
to  guard  against  accident  or  misfortune.  Even  the 
captain  and  first  lieutenant  of  the  Niagara  stood 
watch  during  the  process  of  laying,  day  and  night. 
The  officer  of  the  deck  gave  his  constant  attention  to 
the  log  and  courses,  and  the  log  w?  eaved  every  fifteen 
minutes.  In  the  Cable-circle,  twenty  men  were  stationed. 
Ten  men  were  at  the  paying-out  machine,  while  another 
gang  was  stationed  on  the  platform  leading  from  the  circle 
to  the  machine.  The  engineer  of  the  Company  was  con- 
stantly at  his  post,  or  was  reh'eved  by  the  chief  engineer 
of  the  Niagara.  There  were  also  two  other  engineers 
detailed  to  assist.  Then  there  was  a  master's  mate 
stationed  at  the  brake;  also  two  gentlemen  connected 
with  the  Company,  and  the  general  business  manager, 
all  standing  watch  and  regularly  relieved ;  while  one- 
half  of  the  electricians  were  conctantly  on  duty;  in 
which  department  alone  there  jvere  eight  persons.  The 
whole  number  of  persons  on  board  the  Niagara  in  pay 
of  the  Company  was  twenty-two. 

The  scene  at  night  was  beautiful.  Scarcely  a  word 
was  spoken ;  silence  was  commanded,  and  no  conversa- 
tion allowed.  Nothing  was  heard  but  the  strange 
rattling  of  the  machine  as  the  Cable  was  running  out. 
This    music    was    singular,    without    variation,      Tlie 


^  \\  j-\        r^  \-\  M'i  *»+  y-\-**     ^J*-»y-»l^ 


to  the  singularity  of  the  spectacle ;  and  those  who  were 


I  152  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

r  on  board  the  ship  describe  the  state  of  anxious  suspense 

m  which  aU  were  held  a^  exceedingly  impressive.     The 
news  of  the  successive  disasters  to  the  wire  appeared  to 
strike  as  though  a  personal  hope  had  been  extinguished 
The  mode  adopted  by  the  ships  in  splicing  was  as 
follows  :-The  Magara  and  Agame7nnon  made  fast  to 
each  other-stern  to  stem-by  a  hawser.     They  kept 
200  fathoms  apart  until  two  miles  of  Cable  had  been 
paid  out  (sufficient  to  reach  bottom),  ^hen  cast  off  and 
pursued  separate  cou  3es  at  a  rate  generally  of  Jive  miles 
per  hour,  while  the  ships'  progress  would  vary  from  3^ 
to  4i  miles  per  hour.     The  highest  pressure  at  any  time 
was  4,500  pounds,  the  lowest  1,900. 

One  remarkable  circumstance  attended  the  laying  of 
the  Cable.  Every  time  the  ships  were  prepared  to  splice 
the  weather  was  exceedingly  fine,  and  the  sea  smooth' 
and  so  continued  until  the  breaks  occurred.  Such  wal 
the  case  in  every  instance  until  tne  ships  met  again.  In 
fact  the  only  favorable  weather  was  while  the  ships  werp 
engaged  with  the  Cable. 

The  cruise  of  the  Agamemnon  was  described  as  fol- 
lows by  an  English  Correspondent:— 

"  As  we  approached  the  place  of  meeting,  the  Valorous 
hove  in  sight  at  noon ;  in  the  aflemoon  the  magara 
cams  in  from  the  north,  and  in  the  evening  the  Gorgon 
from  the  south ;  and  then,  almost  for  the  first  time  since 
.-'arting,  the  squadron  was  reunited  near  the  spot  where 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


153 


the  great  work  was  to  commence.    The  rendezvous  actu- 
ally agreed  upon  was  52°  2'  north  lat.,  33°  18'  west  long., 
but  the  place  where  the  vessels  met  was  in  51°  54'  lat., 
32"  33'  long.,  or  about  30  miles  more  toward  the  Eng- 
lish coast  than  had  been  agreed  upon.     On  the  even- 
ing of  Friday,  June  25,  the  four  vessels  lay  together, 
side  by  side,  and  there  was  such  a  stillness  in  ■  ""^.e  sea  and 
air  (as  would  have  seemed  remarkable  in  an  iniand  lake) 
on  the  Atlantic ;  and  after  what  we  had  all  so  lately  wit- 
nessed, it  seemed  almost  unnatural.    We  have  said  how, 
during  the  awful  rolls  which  the  Agamemnon  made  on 
the  20th  and  21st,  the  upper  part  of  the  main  coil  shifted, 
and  became  a  mere  shapeless  tangled  mass,  with  which 
it  seemed  impossible  to  deal  in  any  conceivable  way.   For 
the  first  24  hours  the  labor  seemed  hopeless,  for  so  dense 
was  the  tangle,  that  an  hour's  hard  work  would  some- 
times scarcely  clear  half  a  mile.     By-and-by,  however,  it 
began  to  mend,  the  efforts  were  redoubled,  and  late  on 
Friday  night  140  miles  had  been  got  out,  and  the  remain- 
der was  found  to  be  clear  enough  to  commence  work  with. 
"  On  the  morning  of  Saturday,  June  26,  all  the  prepara- 
tions were  completed  for  making  the  splice,  and  com- 
mencing the  great  undertaking.    The  end  of  the  Niagara's 
Cable  was  sent  on  board  the  Aqamemnon^  the  splice  was 
made,  a  bent  sixpence  put  into  it  for  luck,  and  at  2  50, 
Greenwich  time,  it  'vas  slowly  lowered  over  the  side  and 
disappeared  for  ever.     The  weather  was  cold  and  foggy. 


154 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


with  a  stiff  breeze  and  dismal  sort  of  sleet,  and  as  there 
was  no  cheering  or  manifestation  of  enthusiasm  of  any 
kind,  the  whole  ceremony  had  a  most  funereal  effect,  and 
seemed  as  solemn  as  if  we  were  burying  a  marine  or 
some  other  mortuary  task  of  the  kind,  equally  cheerful 
and  enlivening.     It  is  needless  making  a  long  story 
longer,  so  we  may  state  at  once,  that  when  each  ship 
had  p  id  out  three  miles  or  so,  and  were  getting  well 
apart,  the  Cable  broke  on  board  the  Niagara,  owing  to 
its  overriding  and  getting  off  the  pulley  leading  on  the 
machine.     The  break  was,  of  course,  known  instantly ; 
both  vessels  put  about  and  returned ;  a  fresh  splice  was 
made,  and  again  lowered  over  at  7^  o'clock.     According 
to  arrangement,  150  fathoms  were  veered  out  from  each 
ship,  and  then  all  stood  away  on  their  course,  at  first 
at  two  miles  an  hour,  and  afterwards  at  four.     Every- 
thing then  went  well— the  machine  working  beautifully, 
at  32  revolutions  per  minute— the  screw  at  26— tlie  Cable 
running  out  easily  at  five  and  five  and  a  half  miles  an 
hour,  the  ship  going  free.     The  greatest  strain  upon  the 
,      -Tiometp    was  2,500  pounds,  and  this  was  only  for  a 
few    minutes— the  average  giving  only  2,000  pounds  and 
2,100  pounds.     At  12  at  midnight  twenty-one  nautical 
miles  had  been  payed  out,  and  the  angle  of  the  Cable 
with  the  horizon  had  been  reduced  considerably.     At  3^ 
o'clock  40  miles  had  gone,  and  nothing  could  be  morf^ 
perfect  and   regular  than   tlie  working  of  everything. 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


^55 


when,  suddenly,  at   3  40  a.m.,  on  Sunday,  tlie  27th, 
Professor  Thompson  came  on  deck,  and  reported  a  total 
break  of  continuity  that  the  cable,  in  fact,  had  parted, 
and,  as  was  believed  at  the  time,  from  the  Niagara.    The 
Agamemnon  was  instantly  stopped,  and  the  brakes  ap- 
plied to  the  machinery,  in  order  that  the  Cable  payed  out 
might  be  severed  from  the  mass  in  the  hold,  and  so 
enable  Professor  Thompson  to  discover  by  electrical  tests 
at  about  what  distance  from  the  ship  the  fracture  had 
taken  place.     Unfortunately,  however,  there  was  a  strong 
breeze  on  at  tne  time,  with  rather  a  heavy  swell,  which 
told  severely  upon  the  Cable,  and  ere  any  means  could 
be  taken  to  ease  entirely  the  motion  on  the  ship,  it  parted, 
a  few  fathoms  below  the  stern-wheel,  the  dynamometer 
indicating  a  strain  of  nearly  4,000  pounds.    In  another 
instant  a  gun  and  a  blue  light  warned  the  Valorous  of 
what  had  happened,  and  roused  all  on  board  the  Aga- 
memnon to  a  knowledge  that  the  machinery  was  silent, 
and  that  the  iirst  part  of  the  Atlantic  Cable  had  been  laid 
and  lost  effectually. 

"  The  great  length  of  Cable  on  board  both  ships  allowed 
a  large  margin  for  such  mishaps  as  these,  and  the  arrange- 
ment made  before  leaving  England  was  that  the  splices 
might  be  renewed,  and  the  vroik  recommenced,  till  each 
ship  had  lost  250  miles  of  wire,  after  which  they  were  to 
riio_oor,t.ipiip.  their  efforts  and  return  to  Queenstown  for 
orders    Accordingly,  after  ihi  breakage  on  Sunday  morn- 


i 


J  56  The  Expedition  of  1858. 


ing,  the  ships'  heads 


about. 


of 


were  |: 
time  the  Agamemnon  affain 

beating  up  against  the  wind  for  tke  everlasting  rendei^vons 
which  we  seemed  destined  to  be  always  seeking.    It  was 
bard  worlc  beating  up  against  the  wind;  so  hard,  indeed 
that  It  -vo.,  not  till  the  noon  of  Monday,  the  2dth,  that 
we  rojoinod  the  Niagara;  and,  while  all  were  waiting 
with  impatience  for  her  explanation  cf  how  they  broke 
the  Cable,  she  electrified  every  one  by  running  up  the  inter- 
rogatory,  .  Uow  did  the  Cable  part  V    This  was  astound- 
"IS-     As  so<.u  as  the  boat*  could  be  lowered,  Mr.  Cybus 
iiELi,,  with  the  electricians  from  the  Niagara,  came  on 
board,  and  a  comparison  of  logs  showe<l  the  painful  and 
mysterious  fact  that,  at  the  sa,nc  second  of  time,  each 
vessel  discovered  that  a  tot.-,I  fracture  had  taken  place  at 
a  distance  of  cerfciinly  not  less  than  ten  miles  from  each 
»  "p-m  fact,  as  well  as  can  be  judged,  ..:  the  bottom  of 
the  oecau.     That  of  all  the  many  niisnaps  connected  with 
tlie  Atlantic  Telegraph  this  ,.-,  ,h..  „„rst  and  most  dis- 
■<-rtcn,ng  is  certam,  si,.c  it  |,roves  that,  after  all  that 
buman  skill  and  .^-icncc  .an  ,.ff„a  to  lay  the  wire  down 
will,  safety  has  been  ac^onipHsh,  :,  there  may  be  some 
f.it.-d  obstacles  to  success  al  tl„.  b.Htomof  the  ocean  whi.h 
can  never  be  guarded  agaii.sl,  i;,r  ,nTn  the  „M„re  .,f  l!,e 
penl  mus.  always  renmin  a,  .secret  an,l  UMk.i.un  a,  ,|,c 
depth.-!  Ill  wlneh  it  is  lo  be  eneounlered. 

"No,i,„ew,...l,w,,.,ne,.,|„,,.,,,|,,,,.,i„^,,,^.,^^^^^^.^^^^ 


» 

/ 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


157 


the  third  and  last  splice,  which  was  lovered  over  into 
2, Quo  fathoms  water  at  7  o'clock  by  ship's  time  the  same 
night.  The  Cable,  as  before,  paid  out  beautifully,  and 
nothing  could  have  been  more  regular  and  more  easy 
than  the  working  of  every  part  cf  the  apparatus.  At 
first  the  ship's  speed  was  only  2  knots,  the  cable  going  3 
and  3i,  with  a  strain  of  1,500  pounds,  the  horizontal 
angle  averaging  as  low  as  17,  and  the  vertical  about  16. 
]^v  and  by,  however,  the  speed  was  increased  to  4  knots, 
the  cable  going  5,  at  train  of  2,000  pounds,  and  an 
angle  of  from  12  to  14.  At  this  rate  it  was  kept,  with 
trifling  variations,  throagnout  ilmost  the  whole  of  Mon- 
thly night,  and  neither  Mr.  Bright,  Mr.  Canning,  nor 
Mr.  Clifford  ever  ([ulud  the  machines  for  an  instnnt. 
Towards  the  middle  of  the  night,  while  the  rate  of  tht 
ship  continued  the  same,  the  sp(ed  at  which  the  Cable 
-layec'  out  slackened  nearly  a  kno*  an  hour,  whiK'  the 
(  vnanometer  inculcated  as  l(^w  as  1,800  })(<un(l.s.  Tins 
chiMigc  could  only  b(;  accounted  for  on  the  suftposition 
that  the  water  had  shallowed  to  ;.  considerable  ox<ei)* 
and  that  the  ves)*c\  was  mi  fact  passing  over  some  ^ui)- 
murine  Ben  Nevis  or  Skiddaw. 

"  After  an  interval  of  about  an  hour,  tiie  strain  and  ra*- 
ol  nrt*'fn;ss  of  the  Cable  ai^'iin  increased,  while  the  in- 
crease  of  the  vertical  angle  seem(>d  lo  indicate  that  the 

this  there  w;us  no  variation  throughout  Monday  night,  ov, 


Ili^ 


^S^  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

indeed,  through  Tuesday.     The  upper  deck  coi],  whieh 
had  weighed  so  heavily  upon  the  ship,  and  still  more 
heavily  upon  the  minds  of  all  during  the  past  storms 
was  fast  disappearing,  and  by  12  midday  on  Tuesday,' 
the  29th,  76  miles  had  been  paid  out  .0  something  like 
eO  miles'  progress  of  the  ship.     All  seemed  to  promise 
most    hopefully,   and   the  only   cause  that  warranted 
anxiety  was  that  it  was  evident  the  upper  deck  coil 
would  be  5nished  by  about  11  o'clock  ^t  night,  when 
the  men  v,ould  have  to  pass  in  darkness  along  the  great 
loop  which  formed  the  communication  between  that  and 
the  coil  in  the  main  hold.     This  was  most  unfortunate 
but  tlie  operation  had  been  successfully  performed  in 
duyhght  during  the  experimental  trip  in  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  and  every  precaution  was  now  taken  that  no 
accident  should  occur.     At  9  o'clock  by  the  ship's  time 
when  148  miles  had  been  paid  out,  and  about  112  miles' 
distance  from  the  rendezvous  accomplished,   when  tho 
last  Hake  but  one  of  the  upper  deck  coil  came  .n  turn  to 
bo  uso<l,  in  order  to  make  it  easier  p^ussing  to  the  main 
^•o.I,  the  revolutions  of  the  screw  were  reduced  gradually 
l.y  two  revolutions  at  a  time  from  SO  to  20,  while  the 
Puyuig-out  Machine  went  slowly  from  36  to  22.     At  this 
'ate,  the  vessel  going  three  knots  and  the  Cable  thno 
■nul   a   half,   the   operation  was  continued  with   perfect 
regularity,  the  dynamometer  i' dicitinir  a  strain  iA'^2  H^*^ 
pounds.     Su.ldcnly,  without  an  msUuit's  warning,  Jr  the 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


159 


occurrence  of  any  single  incident  that  could  account  for 
it,  the  Cable  parted.  The  gun  that  again  told  the  Valor- 
ous of  this  fatal  mishap  brought  all  on  board  the  Aja- 
inemnon  rushing  to  the  deck,  for  none  could  believe  the 
rumor  that  had  spread  like  wildfire  about  the  ship.  But 
there  stood  the  machinery,  silent  and  motionless,  while 
the  fractured  end  of  the  wire  hung  over  the  stern  wheel, 
swinging  loosely  to  and  fro.  It  seemed  almost  impossi- 
ble to  realise  the  fact  that  an  accident  so  instantanecis 
and  irremediable  should  have  occurred,  and  of  course  a 
variety  of  ingenious  suggestions  were  instantly  afloat, 
showing  most  satisfactorily  how  the  Cable  must  and 
ought  to  have  uroke." 

The  amount  of  Cable  lost  from  this  ship  was  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles ;  nuiking  an  aggregate  loss 
of  about  three  hundred  miles  of  Cable^  during  the  progress 
of  this  Expedition. 

Th'^  Niagara  arrived  at  Queenstown  on  Monday,  July 
5,- one  week  in  advance  of  the  Agamemron, 

Captiiin  Hudson's  official  report  of  the  Expedition 
was  as  follows : 

"  Umtkd  Statics  Stkam  Fkiuatk  Niauara, 

QlitKNSTowN,  Ireland,  July  8,  1808. 

"Sir, — 1  am  sumowhat  mortified  und  disaupoiuted  lu 
report  tl:e  arrival  of  the  Niayna  at  this  port  on  the  5tli 


■  i  •  «  * 


I  he  Ti-h'graphic  Cable 


fi4^> 


If 


1 60  The  Expedition  of  1 858. 

"%  last  dispatch,  of  the  10th  ult,  informed  you  that 
the  squadron  were  off  Plymouth  harbor,  bound  to  the 
appointed  rendezvous  for  uniting  and  running  out  the 
Telegraphic  Cable. 

"  During  the  first  three  or  four  days  of  our  passage,  we 
had  calms  and  light  variable  winds  ;  the  following  eight 
days  almost  con^hiuous  gales  from  the  west  to  the  south- 
west, and  the  greater  part  of  the  time  heavy  sea  ;  when 
the  weather  again  moderated,  and  our  vessels,  which  had 
separated  during  the  gales,  met  together  at  the  rendez- 
vous on  the  25th  ;  the  Agamemnon  liaving  shifted  about 
one  hundred  miles  of  the  ui)per  portion  of  the  Cable  on 
her  main  hola  tier  during  the  gale,  which  portion  they 
were  engaged  in  running  i„  the  gun-deck  when  we  fell 
in  with  them. 

"  On  the  26th  (Saturday)  we  commenced  our  operations 
by  securing  the  Naujara  and  Ajamcmmm  together,  stern 
to,  with  hawsers,  splicing  the  Cable,  and  easing  it'.]<nvn 
gradually  with  two  hundred  futlioms  paid  out  Iroiii  each 
Hhip;   the  hawser  let  go  by  signal,  and  ihe  ships  sepa- 
rated on  their  resj.ectivc  courses,  at  a  rat^^-  of  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  the  hour.     ^Vh,.n  we  had  paid  out  two  miles 
and  forty  fithoins,  as  shown  by  our  indicator,  llie  Cable, 
hehoj    hauled    in    thr    ,rrnnrj   direction,    through    th,   ejri/r- 
'»''»f   or   carelessness   of  on"   of  the  men  statinnnl   h,   if, 
caiiLrhtand  i);irt<'d  in  ',ho  Vi,i,„  ,;,\.  ,.,o,.i.: a   1 

_•  •       -it-    iiv  <i  V  V 

fog  and  mist  had  set  in  soon  after  the  ships  sepn rated. 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


161 


"We  were  fortunate  enough,  however,  to  get  together 
again  in  a  short  time,  spUce,  lower  down  the  Cable,  and 
separate  from  each  other  as  before  stated.     The  Xia- 
fjara's  speed  at  starting  was  short  of  one  mile  the  hour, 
and  gradually  increased  to  two  knots  six  fathoms  up  to 
7  o'clock  P.M.,  the  Cable  being  paid  out  three  and  a 
half  knots  per  hour;  and  from  that  hour  till  midni-ht,  a 
uniform  speed  was  maintained  of  three  and  a  half  miles 
the  hour,  and  the   Cable  was  paid  out,  as  shown  by 
the  indicator,  at  four  and  a  half  miles  the  hour.     Our 
machinery  was  working  as  well   as  we  could   desire, 
Cable  running  from  the  coils  and  going  over  it  with 
ease  and  regularity,  when  to  our  great  surprise,  at  14 
o'clock,   A.M.,   on   the   27th  (Sunday),    .he  electricians 
rci)orted  that  there  had  been  no  signals  from  the  Aju- 
memnon  for  the  la.st  ten  minutes.     We  kept  going  cu 
slowly,  as  previously  agreed  uinm,  until  4  40  a.m.  (mi 
tlie  meantime  the  electricians  tested  the  C;tble   m  the 
sluj),  and  rei)orted  tlie  continuity  and   insulations  per- 
fect), when  the  chip's  headway  w;us  entirely  stopped,  and 
we  commenced   h(>aving  in   with   die  machinery.     The 
Cable  parted  at  4  ')()  A.M.,  and  we  lost  on  this  occasion 
as  m.>asured  by  the  iiulicator,  42  miles,  300  fathoms  of 
Cable,  and  slarltd  tor  the  rendezvous,  wliere  on  Mon*lay 
the  28lh,    the   A'/anin>ni"„    :uid    Xiacjaro    were   secured 
tngottier,  liie  spiice   niatif,  iuvVt-n  .i   .i..v»;i,  ii;;;;    ;;:v-  .  :;;i-.. 
separated.  !us  h;us  Ixvmi   ah-eady  described,  nt  7  '60  I'.M. 


l62 


ft 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 
Our  speed  for  the  first  hour  was  only  three- 


a 


i-quarters 
""xc,  second  hour.  2^  miles;  third  hour,  3  miles;  and 
the  fourth  hour,  3^  miles.  From  that  time  until  9  10 
on  Tuesday  evening,  the  29th  (when  we  ceased  to  gel 
signals  from  the  Agamemnon,  and  the  engines  slowed 
down),  the  speed  of  the  ship  had  been  4^  miles  the  hour 
and  the  Cable  paid  out  5i  miles  the  hour,  as  shown  by 
the  indicator. 

"The  engines  were  stopped  at  10  p.m.,  and  the  ship 
hung  m  a  measure  by  the  Cable  until  twenty  minutos 
after  midnight,  when  :.  parted,  the  indicator  showin..  a 
loss  on  this  occasion  of  145  miles,  930  fhthoms  of  The 
Ca})le.      Our  electricians  again  thoroughly  tested  all  tLe 
Cable  on  board  ship,  and  found  the  insulation  and  conti- 
nuity all  perfect,  and  there  was  but  one  opinion  among 
those  gentlemen,  that  the  Cable  parted  rt  or  near  the 
Agamemnon,  which  we  shall  ascertain  when  she  arrives 
at  this  port  to  fill  up  her  coal. 

''^  n  arrangement  had  been  made,  when  the  sliips  sepa- 
rated on  the  28th  inst.,  that  in  the  event  of  any  accident  to 
the  Cable  befvre  either  should  have  run  one  hundred  mik. 
we  were  to  return  to  the  rendezvous,  unite  the  Cable,  and 
uutke  another  attempt  to  lay  it  ouf  if  beyond  that  dis- 
tance, the  vessels  were  to  proceed  to  Qucenstown,  fill  up 
with  coal,  and  again  renew  our  ( fVorts. 

"In  the  Xiagara  we  hud  uU  the  coal  that  wo  r.2..^iTM 
for  h.y  ing  down  our  part  of  the  Cable.     There  were'seri^ 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


163 


ous  doubts,  however,  if  we  ran  further,  or  any  distance 
beyond  the  one  named,  whether  the  Agamemnon'' a  coal 
would  hold  out  (without  any  expenditure  in  getting  back 
to  the  rendezvous)  and  leave  her  enough  to  insure  steam- 
ing back  to  Valentia  Bay  with  the  cable,  in  the  event  of 
no  further  casualty  to  it  on  the  way  there. 

*'  Mr.  Everett's  n.achinery  has  paid  out  the  Cable  with 
apparent  ease  and  uniformity  of  strain,  and  we  find  it 
admirably  adapted  to  the  work  it  has  to  perform  in  all 

its  parts. 

"  Iler  Majesty's  steamer  Gorgon,  which  accompanied  us, 
arrived  here  with  the  Niagara.  We  now  await  the  arri- 
val of  the  Agamemnon  and  the  Valorou.^,  when  we  hope 
to  be  oflf  again  for  the  rende/.vous  in  seven  or  eight  days, 
under  more  favorable  auspices  of  weather  than  we  expe- 
rienced in  the  monlh  of  June. 

"  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  report  the  continued  good 
health  of  officers  and  crew. 

"I  have  the  hono*-  to  be,  respectfully, 
'  Your  obedient  serv't, 

"  Wm.  L.  Hudson,  Captain. 
"  Hon.  I.  TOUCEY,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington, 
1).  C" 

The  Electricians  on  board  the  Niagara  made  the  fol 

loiwinrr  ronr »rt.  • — • 


164 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


m 


"At  Sea,  on  3oard  U.  S.  Steam  Frigate  Niagara, 
Electricians'  Department,  July  2,  1858. 
To  the  Directors  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company: 

"GENTLEMEN-We  beg  to  submit  to  you  the  following 
statement  of  the  proceedings  in  our  department  during 
the  expedition  of  the  Telegraphic  Squadron,  from  the 
sailing  on  the  10th  to  the  30th  ult.     On  the  passage  cut 
to  the  rendezvous  we  practised  the  staff  of  manipulating 
clerks  in  the  working  of  the  instruments  until  they  were 
thoroughly  proficient  in  the  system.     The  instruments 
in  circuit  were  a  battery  of  240  elements  of  copper  and 
/.inc,   reversing  key,    magnetometer,   ordinary  galvano- 
meter, Professor  Thomson's  marine  galvanometer  and 
four  plug-switches,  in  conformity  with  your  directions 
and  the  system  of  signalling  authorized  by  your  Board. 
On  the  26th  ult.,  at  1  58   i'.m.,  Greenwich   time,  the 
iViagara's  and  A:jramemnon's  Cables  having  been  united 
on  board  the  latter  ship,  we  commenced  signalling  through 
the  Cable,  (the  whole  of  the  iVicf/am's  Cable  b(Mng  in  Cer- 
ent, with  the  exception  of  about  100  miles  that  had  been 
cut  out  of  circuit  for  the  purpose  of  testing,  there  being 
faulty  insulation  in  a  part  of  it).     We  continued  signal- 
ling through  the  Cable  in  t  lie  most  perfect  and  satisfactory 
laannrr  until  3  28  p.m.,  (Ireonwieh  time,  when  the  Cable 
parted  on   b„;,nl   this  ship.     The  telegraph  ships  then 
n-tunied  tt)  the  rendezvous,  and  Prof  TnoMooM  r^,,,^  ..;: 
board  tliis   ship   to   examine  our  record  of  signalling 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


165 


and  testing  with  him.  We  arranged  some  new  signals 
that  did  not  materially  alter  the  system  authorized  by 
you,  but  which  increased  our  list  of  signals  so  as  to  meet 
some  possible  r.equirements,  viz.,  signals  to  be  used  in 
case  of  the  necessity  of  cutting  and  buoying  the  Cable, 
and  also  for  any  temporary  stoppage  that  mi^ht  occur. 

"  The  two  Cables  were  then  spliced,  and  at  6  50  p.m., 
Greenwich  time,  we  commenced  passing  signals  lo  ana 
from  the  Agamemnon  until  3  32  A.M.,  Greenwich  time, 
on  the  27th,  at  which  time  we  ceased  receiving  signals 
from  the  Agamemnon.      After  waiting  fifteen   minutes 
for  the   signals,    and   getting   none,   we   informed  Mr. 
Everett  thereof.     On  applying  all  the  different  electri- 
cal tests  in  our  power  to  the  Cable,  we  found  that  there 
was  'dead  earth'  upon  it,  and  informed  the  engineers 
of  the  fact.     The  Cable  on  board  was  then  cut  at  about 
100  miles  from  the  bottom  end  and  tested,  and  found 
perfect.    Another  cut  was  made,  leaving  about  196  miles 
in  circuit  on  board,  and  this  part  of  the  Cable  was  found 
perfect.     A  third  cut  was  made  in  the  Cable,  leaving 
only  20  miles  in  circuit  on  board,  in  addition  to  that 
paid  out,  the  short  end  carried  to  our  testing-room,  and 
tested.     All  the  Cable  on  board  this  ship  was  found  to 
be  perfect  in  all    n'speels,  h\\i  the  tests  applied  to  the 
Cable  paid  out  showed  that  it  was  electrically  bn^ken, 


L      1 


uliu    liiut    TiKiO  Vv'iuS   ■  iiC 


again  returned  to  tlie  rendezvous,  and  on  Monday,  Juno 


m 


166  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

28,  having  joined  the  Agamemnon,  at  Mr.  Evekett's  re- 
quest, Mr.  De  Sauty  proceeded  to  the  Agamemnon  to 
confer  with  Prcf  / :  r  Thomson,  and  compare  the  records 
of  the  sip  ^ a-   ■  V  '  .  z:^.     At  9  24  p.m.,  Greenwich  time, 
the  Ago: 'ie7:inon's  and  Niagara's  Cables  having  been  again 
united,  we  commenced  signalling  to  and  from  the  Aga- 
memnon in  the  same  pe.fcpt  -nanner,  until  11  44  p.m., 
Greenwich  time,  on  the  29th,  when,  during  the  time  we 
were  receiving  signals  from  the  Agamemnon,  they  sud- 
denly  ceased,  and  on  cutting  the  Cable,  so  as  to  have 
only  about  twenty  miles  in  circuit  in  addition  to  that 
paid  out,  and  testing  it,  we  found  'dead  earth'  upon 
it.      The  Niagara  then  continued  paying   out   slowly 
for  a  short  time,  and  finally  stoppered  the  Cable  until 
2  57  A.M.     During  this  time  we  kept  continually  test- 
ing  the   Cable   paid  out,   and  every  test  showed  that 
it  was  electrically  broken   a  great  distance  from  this 
ship. 

"  We  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  system  used  for 
signalling,  and  can  suggest  no  alteration  or  improvement, 
as  we  were  not  in  the  slightest  degree  embarrassed  dur- 
ing the  whole  time  that  the  Cable  was  being  submerged. 

"  We  are  also  very  much  pleased  with  the  way  in  which 

the  manipulating  clerks,  viz.  Messrs.  Smith,  Geriiardi, 

Irwin,  and  Linde,  and  Messrs  Murray,  McFarlane,' 

•••-•  _:i.f_vi  L\j  tiioii  uuLiCH.    iiicy  ciiii  every- 

thing  required  of  them  most  cheerfully  and  readily,  and 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


167 


gave  us  every  assistance  in  their  power.   "We  are,  gentle- 
men, your  most  obedient  servants, 

C.  V.  De  Sauty, 
J.  C.  Laws.  " 

Chief  Engineer  Everett  made  report : — 

•  "  United  States  Steamer  Niagara, 

AT  Sea,  June  30,  1858. 
To  the  Directors  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company: 

"  Gentlemen — We  beg  to  make  the  following  report 
relating  to  the  paying  out  of  the  Telegraph  Cable  from 
this  ship.  We  sailed  from  Plymouth  in  company  with 
the  steamers  Agamemnon,  Valorous  and  Gorgon,  on 
Thursday,  June  10th  inst,,  but  did  not  meet  the  Aga- 
memnon at  the  appointed  rendezvous  (latitude  52°  2', 
longitude  33°  18'),  until  the  26th  inst,  as  most  of  the 
voyage  had  been  one  continuous  gale,  and  the  vessels 
were  unable  to  keep  sight  of  each  other.  At  12  18, 
local  time,  the  splice  connecting  ti  Cables  of  the  two 
ships  had  been  made,  and  we  commenced  paying  out. 
At  1  -45,  the  leading  on  the  part  oi  the  Cable  ran 
into  the  adjoining  groove,  and  in  the  excitement  of  first 
starting,  while  attempting  to  put  it  into  the  proper  groove, 
it  tvas   thrown   completely  off  the  tvheel,  and  was  parted 

on  the  handle  on  the  f  r-scraper.      Two  miles  and  forty 

f' _i\, o  i\      r^  1 1  _  u     I  1  „    ■  '        i 

iUliiUuiS  01  tuC  vyciOic  uClvi   uCCii    I'iiKl  OUT. 

"  The  splice  was  again  made  and  we  commenced  paying 


141 


i68  The  Expedition  of  1858. 

out  at  5  20  P.M,  the  ship  going  slowlj  ahead,  and 


the  Cable 


half 


running 
knots  per  hour  until  7  o'clock,  when  the  ship's  speed 
was  increased  to  three  knote,  and  from  this  gradurlly 
to  three  and  three-quarter  knots,  and  the  Cable  was 
paid  out  from  four  and  a  half  to  five  knots,  the  strain 
varying  from  2,100  to  2,300  pounds.     At  1  40  (27th) 
Mr.  De  Sauty,  the  electrician,  reported  that  no  signals 
had   been   received  for   the  la^t   quarter  of  an   hour, 
and  that  from  his  tests  he  believed  the  Cable  had  parted 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  ship.     The  shio's 
speed  was  reduced  as  much  as  possible,  in  order  to  pay 
out  the  least  amount  of  Cable  practicable,  whUt  the 
electricians  made  further  experiments,     ^.t  4  50  .^.M. 
the  electricians  having  given  an  unqualified  opinion  that 
the  Cable  was  parted,  we  decided  to  attempt  hauling  in. 
The  engines  were  connected,  and  about  one  hundred 
fathoms   recovered,    when   the   Cable   parted   near   the 
surface  of  the  water.     The  wind  was  fresh,  with  con- 
siderable   sea.     Forty-two    miles    and    three    hundred 
fathoms  had  been  paid   out,  and   the   running  of  the 
Cable  from  the  coils  and  the  mechanical  arrangements 
for  paying  out  had  been  perfectly  satisfactory. 

"On  the  28th,  soon  after  midday,  the  ships  again  met 
at  the    rendezvous,   when    Mr.   Everett    visited    the 

-v-ri-i   •---"  ^"C -oiigiiicero,  ana  aactJitameci 

that  the  Cable  had  not  been  broken  on  board  that  ship, 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


169 


but  that  they  had  supposed  it  had  been  broken  on  board 


sive  that  the  Cable  must  have 

om   either  ship,  but  from   what 

lace,  we  have  no  means  of  ascer- 


the  Niagara.     It  is 
parted  some  a,'--. 
cause,  or  the  pr 
taining. 

"At  6  7  P.M.  ''i.  •■■'lice  was  again  made  and  lowered, 
the  ship  moving  ahead  slowly,  and  we  payed  out  the 
Cable  as  before,  until  8  o'clock,  when  the  speed  was 
increased  to  three  kr\ots,  and  further  increased  to  four 
knots  by  midnight. 

"  At  12  o'clock  A.  (29th),  by  observation,  the  ship  had 
run  67  miles,  and  we  had  paid  out  89  miles  and  360 
fathoms  of  Cable.  During  the  past  twelve  hours,  the 
speed  of  the  ship  had  averaged  about  ij  knots,  and  5^ 
knots  of  Cable  had  been  paid  out  per  hour.  Nearly 
the  same  rate  of  speed  of  ship  and  Cable  as  before 
was  maintained  until  6  18  p.m.,  when  signals  were 
again  reported  to  have  failed  by  the  electricians.  The 
ship's  speed  was  reduced,  and  the  Cable  paid  out  very 
slow^.'.  At  11  o'clock,  the  electricians  addressed  us  a 
note,  and  wc  determined  to  stop  paying  out  a...d  to  let 
.he  ship  ride  by  the  Cable  until  it  parted.  Although 
the  wind  was  quite  fresh,  the  Cahh  held  tlie  ship  for 

le  hour  and  forty  minutes  hfore  breaking,  and  not- 
v'ithstanding  a  strain  of  four  ions.  By  soundings  on 
chart  tlie  water  was  1,650  fiitlioins. 

"  The  ship  had  run  on  her  rourse  109  miles,  and  142 

8 


1 70 

niles. 


The  Expedition  c{  1858. 


or 


0  fathoms  of  the  Cable  had  been  paid  01 
about  thirty  per  cent,  more  Cable  than  the  distance  run ; 
but  an  allowance  of  ten  ->nes  at  least  must  be  made  for 
the  excess  of  Cable  paid  out  immediately  after  the  splice 
was  made,  which  will  reduce  the  per  ccntage  of  loss  to 
about  twentyone  per  cent.     There  had  been  at  no  time 
a  strain  of  a  ton  upon  the  CM.  since  the  splice  was  last 
made,  and  the  angle  at  wli  ,1,  it  was  running  out  varied 
frcm  twelve  to  nineteen  d.  -ivus  with  the  horizon.     The 
paying-out  machinery  worked  perfectly,  and  wo  have 
not  had  the  slightest  difficulty  in  any  department;    and 
np  to  the  time  of  tne  failure  in  the  receipt  of  signals  we 
bad  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  successful  termination 
of  the  enterprise. 

"There  is  now  remaining  in  the  shi])  1,000  miles  of 
cable,  or  about  thirty  per  cent,  excess  over  the  distance 
to  be  run,  and  should  you  think  proper  to  renew  the  at 
ten.pt,  we  fed  confident  rlicro  is  suifiei.-nt  Cable  now  in 
tiio  ship  to  meet  the  r(>quirements,and  are  readv  to  return 
so  soon  as  the  ship  has  obtained  rhe  nece.ssary"  ^uppiy  of 
coal. 

W.    II.    ^. OoDHOrsK." 

T],o  announcement  of  the  departure  r,f  this  Expedition 
''•"I  '-..viv.Nl  the  anxiety  with  whi.-h  everv  strp  of  the 
•••'t'-rprise  was  rrganle,!.  TidinL's  ihuu  th.«  fl-et  uere 
awaited  on  this  side  of  tlie  Atlantie  in  painful  suspense. 


The  Expedition  of  1858. 


171 


Meanwhile,  a  stormier  June  than  had  been  known  on  the 
Atlantic  for  many  years,  inspired  fears  for  the  result. 
Days  passed  away,  and  still  no  news  came.  Weeks  fled 
and  yet  no  tiJings.  Finally,  on  Monday,  July  13,  when 
upwards  of  a  month  had  passed,  a  brief  dis])atch  from 
Newfoundland  brought  the  first  word  from  the  fleet. 
The  small  steamer  Blue  Jacket^  from  Liverpool,  reported 
that  she  passed  a  "  large  and  a  small  steamer,  both  Bri- 
tish," in  a  latitude  near  the  ])lace  of  rendezvous  for  the 
Niagara  and  Agamemnon ;  and  that  "  in  the  evening," 
she  "  observed  a  large  steamer  bearing  down  upon  the 
others."  This  indefinite  information  aggravated  the  con- 
dition of  suspense.  But  a  day  or  two  afterwards  came 
tli"  Alice  3funroe,  a  sailing  packet,  at  Boston,  with  fuller 
})articulars  ;  and  close  upon  the  track  of  the  Alice  Manroe, 
a  European  steamer,  bringing  detailed  accounts  of  *he 
second  failure. 

The  events  which  resulted  in  the  final  success,  will 
lorm  the  subject  of  a  fresh  chapter. 


3ili^ 


I 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   TniRD   AND    SUCCESSFrL    ATTE^^PT. 

rrilE    Afjamemnon    and    Gorrjon    having    arrivod    at 
J-      Queenstown  on  tlie  12th  July,  the   news   of  the 
second  great   disaster  was   too   fully  eonfinned.      The 
Expedition  had  not  only  ended,  but  three  hundred  miles 
of  the  Cable  had  been  lost  in  mi<l-oeean,  durin-  this 
second  trial.     Doubts  and   fears  again  gathered  tlnekly 
around  the  enterprise.     Pn.phots  of  evil,  flattering  them- 
selvcs  that  tlieir  aj^pndiensions  were  firmlv  grounded, 
wisely  shook  their  h.>ads,  and  indulged  in  sclf-eomplaeent 
observations  ujmn  iheir  forecast  an.l  pn..lene.^     Worse 
than  all,  the  ere.lit  of  the  Company  fell  rapi.llv.     On  the 
6th  of  July,  on  the  nreipt  c,f  the  news  of  thJ  re.urn  of 
the  Xur^ara   \r    Lon.lon,  the  .£1000  shar.>s  of  the  Com- 
p.nv  receded  from  .dm,  nt  which  they  l,a,l  be,-,,  n.uni- 
nally  quoted,  to  .€200.     The  dosing  ra,es  on   that  ,hy 
ranged  from    C200toj:iOO.     That  want  of  ..onfi.len.v, 
wl.ieh   haswreeke.l   ..,,  n.anv  enterprises  ..,,,,1   blaste,l  ,!> 
many  h.)].es,  ret.irne.l  in   f:.ll  vigor  npo,,  ,l,o  h,.,ds  of 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.       173 

the  unfortunate  projectors  of  tliis  great  undertaking.  It 
is  not  necessary  to  add  that  the  reception  of  the  untowD  rd 
intelligence  in  the  United  States  chilled  the  popular  en- 
thusiasm, and  created  doubts  in  the  minds  o^  the  most 
sanguine.  The  Atlantic  Cable  was  virtually  consigned 
to  the  long  catalogue  of  impracticable  fallacies. 

Still,  the  noble-hearted  and  self-denying  Directors  did 
not   falter.     A   special   meeting   of  the  Company  was 
called,  to  meet  in  London  early  in  July,  in  which  a  reso- 
lution to  put  forth  a  new  effort  was  agreed  to  unani- 
mously.    It  was  found  tluit  the  wise  provision  of  an 
extra  length  of  the  Cable  had  relieved  the  Company 
from  the  necessity  of  further  delay  for  the  manufacture 
of  a  new  ^vipply.     More  than  the  necessary  quantity  of 
wire  to  compass  the  ocean  yet  remained  unharmed  on 
board   the  yiagara   and   Agamemnon,    notwithstanding 
the  heavy  losses  incurred  during  the  second  trip.     The 
weatlier,in  the  latter  partof  tlie  summer,  promised  more 
favorably  than  the   remarkably  erratic   course   of  the 
winds  and  waves  in  Jun(>.     The  ofiicers  aiul  men  em- 
plovod  in  the  flei't  were  full  of  ^"uthusiasm  lor  ihe  work. 
These  were   all    valid   n-asons   for  renewing   ihe  elTort. 
The  summer  waned,  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost.     Wit'i- 
out  wasting  \..     .s  In  elaborate  discussion,  the  Directors 
took  their  course,  the   Kxixnlition  was  again  oi\\  red  to 
Pen.  nno    'e  entetprise  went  on. 

The  last  ships  of  the  Telegraphic  S<iUauron  -.rrived  ui 


174      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

Queenstown  on  the  12th  of  July,  and  on  Saturday,  July 
17th,  the  entire  fleet  was  again  under  way,  bound  to  the 
mid-ocean  rendezvous. 

At  noon  on  Thursday,  August  5,  the  city  of  New 
York  was  electrified  by  the  announcement  of  the  arrival 
of  the  magam  and  her  tender,  the  Gorgon,  at  Trinity 
Bay,  Newfoundland;  with  the  astounding  tidings  that 
the  Atlantic  Cable  was  safely  laid,  and  already  in  perfect 
working  order. 

There  is  a  homely  proverb  which  says  of  unoxp(^cted 
intelligence,  that  ''  it  is  too  good  to  be  true."     The  adage 
was   thoroughly  verified   in   this   instance.     Men   were 
generally  incredulous.     The  sanguine  shook  their  heads 
in  doubt.     That  the  news  of  a  comi)lete  success,  after  so 
many  disasters,  should  have  coi.ie  with  the  suddenness 
of  a  flash  along  the  wire  itself,  was  an  event  of  no  com- 
mon  moment.     The  fact  failed  to  obtain  credence  for 
some  hours   after  its  announcement.     Then   came  con- 
firmatory despatches  from   Trinity  Bay.     Doubts  w.  re 
set  aside,  and  the  whole  country  brol-o  out  in  u])r()ari()us 
rejoicings.     The  confirmation  of  the  news  being  immedi- 
ately telegraphed    from   New  York    to  all  parts  of  tlic 
United    States,    the    event    was    made    ilie   occasion    (,f 
impromptu    celebrations    without    number.     Bells    weio 
rung,    iKmiires    l.lax.ed,    business    eeased,    illuminations 
sprang  up,  the  Press  became  jubilant.     Rarely  has  I'lere 
been  heard  so  univei*sal  a  shout  of  joy. 


^) 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.      175 

The  first  telegram  announcing  the  success  of  the  enter- 
prise, was  sent  from  Trinity  Bay  by  Mr.  Cvias  W. 
Field,  directed  to  the  Pre^  of  New  York.  It  was  as 
follows : — 

"  Trinity  Bay,  Thursday,  Aug.  5,  1858. 
"  To  Vie  Associalcd  Press  of  Xew  Y../c: 

"The  Xutgara  and  Gorgon  arrived  at  Trinity  Bay 
yesterday,  and  the  Atlantic  Cable,  the  working  of  whi<-h 
is  perfect,  is  being  landed  to-doy. 

"The  Atlantic  Telegraph  Fleet  sailed  from  Queenstown 
on  Satunlay,  July  17,  met  at  mid-o-oan  on  Wednesday, 
the  28th,  made  the  splice  at  1  p.m.  on  Thursday,  the  29th, 
and  then  separated,  the  Agamemnon  and  Valomu,  bound 
to   \'aUuL..n,  Ireland,    and  the  Xiagwa  and   '>nrgon  for 
this  place,  where  they  arrived  yest.n-day,  and  this  morn- 
iu.  the  end  of  the  Cable  wiU  b.^  landed.     It  is  sixteen 
lumdred  and  ninety-eight  nautical  or  nineteen  hundred 
and  fifty  statute  miles  from  the  Telegraph  house,  at  the 
lH,,i  of  VahMitia  harb..r,  to  the  Telegraph  ho.ise,  Bay 
of  Bulls,   Trinity  Vy.xy,  and  for  nu.re  than  two-tLirds  of 
this  distance  the  water  is  over  two  mius  in  depth.     The 
Cable  has  Invn    pai.l  out    fnun  the  .1,7'"""""">"   at  about 
the   same    spe.  d    as    from   th.'  Xi"'j.,ra.     The  electrical 
signals  seta  and   nv.  ived  thn.ugh  the  whole  Cal.le  are 
j.'^.t'eet.       Tin-     maeh.nerv    for    payiiig   out    the    Cable 
worked    tn  the  r.ost  satisfictory  manner,  and   was  not 


176       The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

stopped  fur  a  single  Moment  from  the  time  the  S2)lieo 

wus  made  until  we  arrived  here. 

"  Captain  Hudson,  Messrs.  Everett  and  Woodhouse 

the  Engineers,  the  Eleetricians  and  o&cers  of  the  ships' 
and  in  fact  eveiy  man  on  board  the  Telegraph  Fleet,  has 
exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  make  the  expedition 
Huceessful;  and  bj  the  blessing  of  Divme  Providence  it 
hiis  succeeded. 

"  After  the  end  of  tlie  Cable  is  landed  and  connected 

vvith  the  land  line  of  telegraph,   and  the  Magara  has 

discharged  some  cargo  belonging  to  the  Telegraph  Com. 

pany,  she  will  go  to  St.  John's  for  coals,  and  then  pro- 

ceed  at  once  to  New  York. 

"  Cyrus  W.  Field." 

Subsequent  dispatches,  exchanged  between  Mr.  Field 
and  the  Presi.Vmt  of  the  United  States,  the  Afayor  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  and  others,  added  to  the  fever  of 
the  popular  excitement.  We  present  these  dispatches 
as  a  valuable  portion  of  the  historj-  of  the  Telegraphic 
enterprise:— 

DisPArcn  to  the  Pklsidsnt  ok  tuk  United  States. 
To  the  President  of  the  United  States,   Washington  : 

Deah  S.k:  The  Atlantic  Telegraph  Cahle  on  bo,,..]  the  Unite,! 
States    ir^KHte   Xi,.,ara,   un,l   HUM    s,,.an.e:-    Ar,„nn> .-as 

jomecl  UMn.l-oeean,  .ruly  ...   and  ha.  .e,.n  sueeesslhlly  l.Hi  •  an,.  .H 
-on  a.   the   .....   ,.,„,.  „,  ,.,.„„„„„„,   ^^.,,,^    ^,^^_   ,^^_^^^  -^^ 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.     177 


Victoria  will  send  a  Message  to  you,  and  the  Cable  viU  Ye  kept  free 
until  after  your  Reply  has  been  transmitted. 
With  great  respect, 

I  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

Cyrus  W.  Field, 


The  President's  Reply. 

Bedford,  Penn.,  Friday,  Aug.  6,  1858. 
To  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Trinity  Bay  : 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  congratulate  you  with  all  my  heart  on  the  suc- 
cess of  the  great  enterprise  with  which  your  name  is  so  honorably 
connected.  Und«!r  the  blessing  of  Divine  Providence  I  trust  it  may 
prove  iustrumental  in  promoting  perpetual  peace  and  friendship 
between  the  kindred  nations. 

I  have  not  yet  received  the  Queen's  dispatch. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

James  Bucti,  an. 


Second  Dispatch  to  the  President, 

Trinity  Bay,  Saturday,  Aug.  7,  1858. 
His  Excellency  James  Buchanan,  President  of  the  Unikd  States,  Bed- 
ford Springs : 
Yoin-  telegraphic  dispatch  has  been  received.  "VVe  landed  here  in 
a  wilderness,  and  until  the  telegraph  instnnncnts  are  all  perfectly 
adjusted,  no  message  can  be  recorded  over  tli.>  Cable.  You  shall 
have  the  earliest  information,  but  some  days  may  elapse  btfore  all 
is  ellected.  The  lirst  message  from  Euruj>e  ?hall  be  from  the  Queen 
to  yourself,  and  the  first  from  America  to  Euf^'laiul,  your  reply. 

"With  great  rc-prcf. 

Very  truly  your  friend, 

Cyrus  W.  Field. 


178      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

Dispatch  to  the  Mayor  of  New  York. 

Trinity  Bay,  Thursday,  Aug.  5,  1858. 
Mayor  of  New  York  : 

Sir:  The  Atlantic  Telegraph  Cable  has  been  successfully  laid. 

C.  W.  Field. 


The  Mayor's  Reply. 

Mayor's  Office, 

New  York,  Friday,  Aug.  6,  1858. 
Cyrus  W.  Field,  Esq.,  Trinity  Bay  ; 

SiK :  Your  dispatch  ha<.  been  received.     I  congratulate  you  myself, 
and  for  tlie  people  of  this  City,  on  the  success  of  the  great  work  of 
uniting  the  old  and  the   new  worlds  by  the  Electric  Telegraph 
Science,  and  skiU,  and  perseverance,  have  <inaUy  triumphed. 

Daniel  F.  Tiemann. 

A  journal  of  the  third  and  List  voyage  of  the  iViaffara 
carefully  posted  from  day  to  day  by  Mr.  Field,"  and 
published  by  his  permission,  embodies  a  complete  history 
of  the  final  triumph.     It  is  as  follows  :— 

"Saturday,  July  17.-This  morning  the  Telegraph  Fleet 
sailed  from  Queei  .nown,  Ireland,  as  follows:  The 
Valorous  and  Gorgon  at  11  a.m.;  the  Niagara  at  7^ 
P.M.,  and  the  Agamemnon  a  few  hours  later.  All  the 
steamers  are  to  use  coal  as  little  as  .ossible  in  getting  to 
th.-  ivndezvons.  Up  to  5  p.m.  elear  weather  and  blue 
^^ky  ;  from  6  to  9  p.m.  overcast,  threatiming  weather  and 


The  Th'iTL   Lnd  Successful  Attempt.      179 


drizzling  rain;  from  9  to  12  p.m.,  overcast,  hazy  and 
squally. 

Sunday,  ISth. — The  Niagara  passed  Cape  Clear  in  the 
morning.  Wind  varying  from  W.  by  W.N.W.  Heavy 
atmosphere,  cloudy  and  squally. 

Monday,  19th.— Wind  varying  from  AY.  to  N.W. 
Hazy  atmosphere,  cloudy  and  rainy, 

Tuesday,  20th.— AVind  from  N.W.  to  K  Ilazy  at- 
mosphere, cloudy  and  squally. 

Wednesday,  21st. — Wind  N.W.  with  slight  variation 
to  the  eastward,  and  cloudy. 

Thursda;y,  22nd.— Wind  N.W.  by  W.  Blue  sky  and 
cloudy. 

Friday,  23rd.— Wind  from  W.  by  S.  to  W.S.W.  and 
cloudy  and  hazy  atmosphere  and  rain.  The  Xiagara  ar- 
rived at  rendezvous,  lat.  52°  5',  long.  32°  40',  at  8  30  p.m. 

Saturday,  21th.— Wind  W.N.W.  and  hazy  auno- 
sphere,  cloudy  and  squally. 

Sunday,  25th.— Faforous  arrived  at  4  P.M.  Calm, 
hazy  atmosphere  and  cloudy. 

Monday,  26th.— Calm,  hazy  atmosphere,  cloudy.  Capt. 
Oldham  of  the  Valorous  came  on  board  of  the  Xiagara. 

Tuesday,  27th.— Calrp,  hazy  atmosphere.  Gorgo7i  ar- 
rived at  5  P.M. 

Wednesday,  28th.— Slight  wind  N.N.W.,  blue  slcy 
and  hazv  atmosphere.     Agatnannou  arrived  at  5  P.M. 

Thursdav,   29th.— Lat.  52°   9'   north,    long.   32     27' 


I 


\v 


1 


Ilfl 


1 80      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

west.     Telegraph  Fleet  all  in  sight;  sea  smooth ;  light 
wind  from  S.E.  to  S.S.E.,  cloudy.     Splice  made  at  1  p.m. 
Signals  through  the  whole  length  of  the  Cable  on  board 
both  ships  perfect.    Depth  of  water  loOO  fathoms ;  distance 
to  the  entrance  of  Valentia  harbor  813  nautical  miles,  and 
from  there  to  the  telegrapli  house  the  shore  end  of  the 
Cable  is  laid.    Distance  to  the  entrance  of  Trinity  Bay, 
Newfoundland,  822  nautical  miles,  and  from  there  to  the 
telegraph  house  at  the  head  of  the  bay  of  Bull's  Arm,  60 
miles,  making  in  all  882  nautical  miles.     The  Niagara 
has  69  miles  further  to  run  than  the  Agamemnon.     The 
Niagara  and  Agamemnon  have  each  1100  nautical  miles 
of  cable  on  board,  about  the  same  quantity  as  last  year. 
At  7  45  P.M.  ship's  time,  or  10  5  P.M.  Greenwich  time, 
signals   from    the   Agamemnon    ceased,   and    the    tests 
ap2)lied  by  the  electricians  showed  that  there  was  a  want 
of  continuity  on  the  Cable,  but  the  insulation  was  perfect. 
Kept  on  paying  out  from  the  Niagara  very  slowly,  and 
constantly  applying  all  kinds  of  electrical  tests  until  9  10 
ship's  time  and  11  30  P.M.  Greenwich  time,  when  again 
commenced   receiving   perfect    signals    from    the   Aga- 
memnon. 

Friday,  30th.— Lat.  51° 50' N.  Long.  3-4°  49'  W.,  distance 
run  by  observation  the  last  23  hours  89  miles.  Paid  out 
131  miles,  900  fathoms  Cable,  or  a  surplus  of  42  miles, 
900  latlioms,  over  the  distance  run  by  observation,  equal 

to  48  per  cent.     Lej)th  of  water  1550  to  1975  fathoms ; 

1* 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.       i8i 
wind  from  S.E.  to  S.W.     Weather  thick  and  rainy,  with 


some  sea 


Gorgon 


m  sitr 


lit.     At  5  30  A.M.  finished  the 


main  deck  coil,  and  commenced  paying  out  from  the 
berth  deck.  723  miles  from  telegraph  house  at  Bull's 
Arm,  Trinity  Bay.  Friday  30,  at  2  21  p.m.  received 
signals  from  the  Agamemnon  that  they  had  paid  out  150 

miles. 

Saturday,  31st.— Lat.  51=  5'  north,  long.  38°  14'  W ;  dis- 
tance run  from  observation  the  last  four  hours,  137  miles; 
payed  out  156  miles,  843  fiithoms  of  Cable,  or  a  surplus 
of  22   miles;  843   fathoms  over   the  distance   run  by 
observation,  equal  to  17  per  cent.;  depth  of  water,  1657 
to  2250  fiithoms :  wind  moderate,  S.W.,  and  from  6  A.M. 
N.W.  by  N. ;  weather  cloudy ;  little  rain  and  some  sea  : 
Gorgon  in  sight.     Total  amount  of  Cable  paid  out  291 
miles;  730  fathoms;  total  distance  run  by  observation, 
226  miles.     Surplus  Cable  payed  out  over  the  distance 
run  by  observation,  65  miles,  730  fathoms,  equal  to  29 
per  cent. ;  656  miles  from  the  telegraph  house  at  Trinity 
Bay ;  11  4  P.M.,  payed  out  from  the  Niagara  300  miles  of 
Cable  ;  at  2  45  p.m.  received  signals  from  the  Agamemnon, 
that  they  had  payed  out  from  her  300  miles  of  Cable ;  at 
5  37  P.M.,   finished  coil  on  the  berth,  and  commenced 
]);iying  out  from  the  lower  deck. 

Sunday,  Aug.  l.-Lat.  50^  32'  N.  long.  41°  55'  W. ; 
distance  run  by  observation  the  last  24  hours,  145  miles ; 
payed  out  164  miles  and  Cs:',   r,,th..ms  of  Cable,  or  a 


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l82      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 
SU.PIUS  of  19  miles,  630  fathoms  over  the  distance  rua 

NNEtNE  T'  "'""  """'-^'-"'l  fr-H  from 

N.N.E  to  NE     weather  cloudy,  misty,  and  a  heavy  sweil  • 

^nues,  400  fathoms ;    do.  do    mn  1  xr  ^u 

Q      ,      ^  ,  '  "°-  ^^°   ''7  observation,  371 

Surp,„   Cable  payed  out  over  the  distance  run,  85  m/e  ,' 

telegraph  house;  at  3  05  p.u.,  finished  paying  out  coil 
on  tne  lower  deck,  and  changed  to  the  coiMn  L  hold 
Monday,  2d.-Lat.  49-  52'  N.  Ion.  45-  48'  W  ■   dis 
tance  run  by  observation  the  last  24  hoa,^  154  miles' 
payed  out  177  miles,  15  fathoms  of  Cable,  orasun^l-^o^ 
23  mdas,  100  fathoms  over  the  distance  run,  e,uaT  "15 
percent    Depth  of  water  1,600  to  2,385  fathol    mil 
N   weather  cloudy ;  the  Nu^^ra  getting  light,  and  rolling 
very  mu  h;  ,t  was  not  considered  safe  to  carry  sail  to 

L  s?  fj'   ': """  °'  '"^"'™'  ■'  ■"'«>"  ^  "--^ 

to  stop  the  vessel  a.,  soon  as  possible.    At  7  a.m.,  passed 
and  s,gnalled  the  Cunard  steamer  from  Barton  t:  Liver 
pool.    Total  amount  of  Cable  payed  out,  633  mile.,,  500 
ftthoms ;  run  by  observation,  625  miles ;  total  surplus  of 
Cable  payed  out  over  the  di.stanee  run,  108  mile.,,  500 

fa  horns,  or  less  tl,,an  21  per  cent.;  257  mdes  from  the 
telegrap,,  house ;  12  38  ship's  time,  3  38  Greenwich  time' 
■".perfect  msnlation  of  Cable  detected  i„  .^ending  and 
reccwng  s.gnals  from  the  A,a^„,^n,  which  continued 


ihe  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.       183 


until  5  40  A.M.  ship's  time,  or  8  40  A.M.,  Grcenwicli  time, 
\/L(;a  ail  was  right  again.  The  fault  was  found  to  be  in 
tli'j  ward  room,  or  in  about  60  miles  from  the  lower  end, 
which  was  immediately  cut  out,  and  taken  out  of  the 
circuit. 

Tu.\sday,  3d.— Lat.  45°  17'  N.  long.  49°  23'  W. :  dis- 
tance run,  by  observation,  the  last  24  hours,  147  miles ; 
payed  ouc  161  miles  61  fathoms  of  Cable,  or  a  surplus  of 
14  miles  613  fathoms,  over  the  distance  run, — equal  to 
10  ]  'T  cent.  Depth  of  water  742  to  1,827  fathoms ; 
wind  N.N.W. ;  weather  very  pleasant ;  Gorgon  in  sight ; 
total  amount  of  Cable  paid  out,  796  miles,  300  fathoms, 
liun  by  observation  672  miles ;  surplus  of  Cable  payed 
out,  over  the  distance  run,  123  miles,  300  fnthoms — less 
than  19  per  cent. ;  200  miles  from  the  telegraph  house  ; 
at  8  26  A.M.,  finished  paying  out  coil  from  the  hold,  and 
commenced  paying  out  from  the  ward  room  coil ;  305 
miles  of  Cable  on  board  at  noon  ;  at  11  15  ship's  time, 
received  signals  from  on  board  the  Agamemnon,  that  they 
had  paid  out  from  her  780  miles  of  Cable  ;  on  the  after- 
noon and  evening,  passed  several  icebergs ;  at  9  10  P.M., 
ship's  time,  received  signals  from  the  Agamemnon  that 
she  was  in  water  of  200  fathoms ;  at  10  20  P.M.,  ship's 
time,  Niagara  in  water  of  200  fathoms,  and  informed  the 
Agamemnon  of  the  same. 

Wednesday,  4th.— Lat.  48"  17'  N.  long.  52    43'  W. ; 
distance  run,  by  observation,  146  miles;  payed  out  154 


i84      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

miles,  160  fatUo„,s  of  Cable,  ora.surpte  of  8  miIes-3«o 
.tbon,.  over  the  distant  run-equal  ,o  6  p" 
aepth  of  water  less  than  200  &tho,„s;  weather'b  au^^' 
pereetlycata;  e„.,<,„  in  sight.    Total  amount  oC^I 
na.d  out,  949  miles,  660  fathoms;  surplus  of  Cabk  pad 
ou  ,  over  the  distance  run,  131  mife,  666  fathom.'  « 
->es  to  telegraph  house;    received  signals  from'tS 

iirr";  "  ™°"'  """  ""=^  ''"•^  I'-d  -^  from  h 

entered  Tnmty  Bay  ,at  12  30  p.m.,  ship's  time;  stopped 
sondrng  .g  ,3  to  the  A,„,n.„,non,  for  the  p  rpofof 
mak,ng  aspl.ee.  At  2  40  ship's  time,  commenced  Tdin. 
sgnals  agam  u,  the  ^,a™«„„„,.  ,,  5  p.„.  ^^  ^7;^ 

O^K  of  the  Porcu,,^,  .,„  ,,j  ^^,„  ^^^  ^  ^  J^^'    " 

to.;!;;  hof " """'  -^ '-  "-^-^^  -  "^e 

Thursday    6th.-l  45  a.m.;  .V,',^,™  ,„,^„^^ 
tan  e  run  smce  yesterday  noon,  64  miles;  amount  of 

cable  paid  out,  66  mil ^s  H'^'i  f..fi,  i    • 

loss  thn  4.  ,  '  f^^thoms-bemg  a  Joss  of 

.  '  '''""  ^  ^'''  ^^^"t-     Tot.il  amount  of  cable  n.irl       . 
«"ice  the  splice  was  m-idc    1  01 «      •/  ^        ''''' 

^•"^^  amount  of  distance  run    ^^o  .  -i 

Cable  paid  out  over  the  di     ,  ?'  """""'  "^ 

fath„n.s-heing  a       r.  T  ™"'  ^'^  '""-•  "«« 

c   u,  buipius  ol    li,  per  cent.     At  2  a.m. 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.      185 

went  ashore  in  a  small  boat,  and  informed  the  persons  in 
charge  of  the  telegraph  house,  half  a  mile  from  the  land- 
ing, that  the  Telegraph  Fleet  had  arrived,  and  were  ready 
to  land  the  end  of  the  cable ;  2  45  a.m.,  received  signal 
from  the  Agamemnon  that  they  had  paid  out  from  her 
1,101  miles  of  Cable.  At  5  15  a.m.  Telograph  Cable 
landed ;  at  6  the  shore  end  of  the  Cable  was  carried  into 
the  telegraph  house,  and  received  a  very  strong  current 
of  electricity  from  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Capt. 
Hudson,  of  the  Nuxgara,  then  read  prayers,  and  made 
some  remarks.  1  P.M.,  II.M.  steamer  Gorgon  fired  a 
royal  salute  of  21  guns.  All  day  discharging  cargo  be- 
longing to  Telegraph  Co. ;  all  day  Friday  receiving  strong 
electric  signals  fi-om  the  telegraph  house  at  Valentia. 

Note. — "We  landed  here  in  the  woods ;  until  the  tele- 
graph instruments  are  all  ready,  and  perfectly  adjusted, 
eormiuuications  cannot  pass  between  the  two  continents, 
but  the  electric  currents  are  received  freely.  You  shall 
have  the  earliest  intimation  when  all  is  ready,  but  it  may 
be  some  days  before  eveiythmg  is  perfected.  The  first 
through  message  between  P^urope  and  America  will  be 
from  the  Queen  of  England  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  second,  his  reply. 

Cyius  W.  Field. 


A  j)Cfiod  of  twelve  days  elapsed  from    the  date  of 
Mr.   Fikld's   first  dispatch   until    the    reer])tion  of  the 


i86      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

Queen's  Message  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
During  this  interval,  daily  dispatches  were  received  in 
New  York  from  the  operators  at  Trinity  Bay,  giving 
positive  assurances  that  the  Cable  was  in  perfect  work- 
ing  order,   and  that   signals  were  constantly  passing 
between  the  British  and  American  termini  of  the  line. 
Still,  these  assurances  aroused  a  new  suspicion  in  the 
public  mind.     The  Cable,  men  said,  might  have  been 
safely  laid,  signals  might  be  received  hourly  through  its 
entire  length,  the  operation  of  the  electric  current  might 
remain  unimpeded,-but  could  messages  be  sent  through 
it  ?     The  question  was  one  that  no  one  answered ;  nor 
did  the  electricians  in  charge  at  Trinity  Bay  vouchsafe 
the  explanation   that  would  have  set  doubts  at  rest. 
Days  passed,  and  yet  the  promised  Message  from  Her 
Majesty  did   not   appear.      Intense   anxiety   began   to 
prevail.     ':^he  doubting  part  of  the  public  renewed  their 
prophecies  of  evil.     Success  was  still  fai  from  positive 
certainty,-when  suddenly,  in  the  afternoon  of  Monday, 
August  16,  the  tidings  reached  New  York  from  Ne^v- 
foundland,  that  the  Queen's  Message  was  received.     A 
few  iiours  afterwards,  a  short  paragraph,  purporting  to 
be  the  congratulations  of  Her  Majesty  to  the  President, 
came  to  us.     A  general  feeling  of  disappointment  at  the 
remarkable  brevity,  not  to  say  curtness,  of  this  message, 
found  vigorous  expression.     The  President  himself,  who 
returned  to  the  White  Kouse  to  receive  the  menage, 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.      jSy 

entertained  doubts  of  its  genuine  character,  but  upon 
receiving  assurances  of  its  correctness,  dispatched  a 
reply.  The  following  morning — I'uesday,  August  17 — 
brought  the  explanaaon  of  the  matter.  The  message 
sent  on  Monday  was  but  a  small  part  of  Her  Majesty's 
communication :  the  w^ires  had  ceased  to  work  when  the 
introductory  paragraph  was  dispatched,  but  the  mistake 
was  rectified,  the  message  transmitted  entire,  and  the 
anxiety  of  the  public  was  allayed, — for  the  Cable  was  a 
working  mstrument — an  accomplished  fact. 

The  message  of  Her  Majesty  and  the  reply  of  the 
President,  were  as  follows : 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  QUEEN. 

To  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Washington : 

The  Queen  desires  to  congratulate  the  President  upon  the  suc- 
cessful completion  of  this  great  international  work,  in  which  the 
Queen  has  taken  the  deepest  interest. 

The  Queen  is  convinced  that  the  President  wi'l  join  with  her  in 
fervently  hoping  that  the  Electric  Cable  which  now  connects  Great 
Britain  with  the  United  States  will  prove  an  additional  link  between 
the  nations  whose  friendship  is  founded  upon  their  common  interest 
and  reciprocal  esteem. 

The  Queen  has  much  pleasure  in  thus  communicating  with  the 
President,  and  renewing  to  him  her  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
r    ted  States. 


1 88      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 


REPLY  0^  THE  PRESIDENT. 

VV/3HINGT0N  City,  Aug.  16,  1858. 
To  Her  r-^iesty  Victoria,  Quem  of  Great  Britain: 

The  President  cordiaUy  reciprocates  the  congratulations  of  Her 
M^jes^y,  the  Queen,  on  the  success  of  the  great  international  enter- 
prise accoinpUshed  by  the  science,  skill,  and  indomitable  ener-^y  of 
the  two  countries.  It  is  a  triumph  more  glorious,  because  far  more 
useful  to  mankind,  than  was  ever  won  by  conqueror  on  the  field  of 
battle. 

May  the  Atlantic  Telegrap:,  under  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  prove 
to  be  a  bona  of  perpefual  pe.«;c  and  fnanash^o  between  the  kindred 
nations,  and  an  in.strument  destined  by  Divine  Providence  to  diffuse 
religion,  civilisation,  hberty,  and  iaw  throughout  che  world.  In  this 
view  win  not  all  nation,  of  Christemlom  spontaneously  unite  in  the 
declaration  that  it  shall  be  for  ever  neutral,  and  tiiat  its  communica- 
tions  shaU  be  held  sacred  in  passing  to  their  places  of  destinaUcn 
even  m  the  midst  of  hostilities?    (Signed) 

James  Buchanan. 

Immediately  after  the  transmission  of  the  President's 
reply,  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York  sent  the  fol- 
lowmg  message  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London : 

Mayor's  Office,  New  York,  Aug.  17  1858 
To  the  RioU  Honorable  Sir  Robert  Wa.ker  Garden,  M.  P    Lord 
Mayor  of  London :  ' 

AUa^t  0  Cab  e  „„,t,„,  .^e  continents  „f  Europe  and  America  and 
tie  cues  of  London  and  New  York,  the  work  of  Great  Britain 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.     189 

and  the  United  States,  the  triumph  of  science  and  energy  over  time 
and  space,  thus  uniting  more  closely  the  bonds  of  peace  and  com- 
mercial prosperity,  and  introducing  an  era  in  the  world's  history 
pregnant  with  results  beyond  the  conceptions  of  a  finite  mind.  To 
GK)d  be  all  the  praise. 

Daniel  F.  Tiemann, 
Mayor  of  New  York  City. 

The  Governor-General  of  Canada,  on  the  same  day, 
forwarded  his  congratulations  to  the  Home  Government, 
in  the  following  dispatch : 

The  Honorable  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies.  London, 
England : 
The  G  overnor-GenertJ  of  British  North  America  presents  his 
humble  duty  to  the  Queen,  and  respectfully  congratulates  Her 
Majesty  on  the  completion  of  the  Telegraphic  communication 
between  Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies. 

Edmund  Head. 


The  frigate  Niagara,  having  accomplished  the  task 
allotted  to  her,  returned  to  the  port  of  New  York  on  the 
afternoon  of  Wednesday,  August  18,  after  an  absence  of 
five  months  and  nine  days.  On  the  10th  of  August, 
before  the  departure  of  the  Niagara  from  St.  John's,  a 
banquet  was  given  by  the  authorities  in  honor  of  Mr. 
Field,  ^vho  responded  in  a  brief  speech  to  a  toast  given 
in  his  honor. 

In  response  to  a  complimentary  address  from  the 


f  1^ 


4'    M&v 


190      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

Executive  Council  of  Newfoundland,  Mr.  Field  wrote 
the  subjoined  letter: 

ToV^e  Honora^U  the  E:^ii,e  CauncU  of  Nev,foundland : 
Mb.  Pk^h>,,,  ,,„  H0X0B.BLK  G..XZ.MEK:  I  thank  you  with 
aU  -y  heart  for  this  cordial  .an^estation  of  your  good  wiU     T^  e 

Upward  of  four  years  ago,  when  first  I  laid  before  the  Legislature 
telegraphic  communication,  I  received  vnnr        ^ 

whole  view  which  has  now  wrived  .t  ;,.  b    , 

The  te™,  of  .hat  charter  wcrm  1,  1,  '"°'"P""'™'°^ 

your  ocncib  beea  ^ided  bv.  d  ^  T  '"""'"«"'«'  ""^  ''O 
cu  gumea  by  a  different  spirit,  the  project  wonl.J 
have  been  abandoned,  and  .ear,  perhap,  Z^l^J^^^CZ 
out  w.tnea3,ng  th,s  happ,  „„i„n  „f  „,  ,„  J^^  '* 

ficent  consequences  it  is  destined  to  diffuse 

The  exclusive  privileges  oonfe.red  bj-  a,e  coW  on  the  New 
^or.,  NewfoundUnd,  and  London  Telegraph  Co^^ny,  have  Wei 

obse^e  th   approving  terms  in  which  you  rc'er  to  then,.    Every 
enlightened  country  recognises  a  right  of  property  in  fl,ose  whT 

;  r        "*  ""'^^  '-'"'"'  "'  *'"  -  "P^"'  <--  been" 
Thts  protection  is  necessary  to  draw  out  the  efforts  of  n,cn 

works  of  puWic  uUlity,  f„,  who  would  sow  ifle  H      ,'"  "" 

Co.;::: :;::::  r  ;r:rrcr ":  --'-^  -  *' 

and  T  th-  1    .V  '         P'^'"^'P'e  of  copyright  only  is  involved 

futuren^ay      pX  ve    f      7:  """  '  """""^"^  '™»'  «- 
y      product.ve  of  much  bcneflt  to  your  people  from  .te 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.      191 

great  work  which,  from  the  beginning  to  the  presett  ''me,  has  had 
your  consistent  and  liberal  support.  I  shall  looV  with  peculiar 
pleasure  on  the  advantages  you  may  derive  from  the  proud  position 
of  this  colony  in  the  Telegraph  connexion  of  the  Old  and  New 
Worlds,  and  shall  be  ever  ready  to  promote  your  views  of  advance- 
ment by  all  means  in  my  power. 

I  am,  honorable  gentlemen. 

Your  faithful  servant, 

Ctrus  W.  Field. 

In  another  communication,  addressed  to  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  of  St.  John's,  Mr.  Field  paid  the  following 
deserved  tribute  to  gentlemen  who  have  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  success  of  this  enterprise  : 

I  could  not  do  justice  to  my  own  feelings,  did  I  fail  to  acknow- 
ledge how  much  is  owing  to  Capt.  Hudson  and  the  officers 
of  the  Niagara,  whose  hearts  were  in  the  work,  and  whose  toil  was 
unceasing. 

To  Ccramandcr  Dayman,  of  her  Majesty's  steamer  Gorgon,  for  the 
soundings  so  accurately  made  by  him  the  last  year,  and  for  the  per- 
fect manner  in  which  he  led  the  Niagara  in  the  great  "circle  arc" 
while  laying  the  Cable. 

To  Capt.  Otter,  of  her  Majesty's  steamer  Porcupine,  for  the  care- 
ful survey  made  by  him  in  Trinity  Bay,  and  for  the  admirable 
manner  in  which  he  piloted  the  Niagara  at  night  to  her  anchorage. 

To  Mr.  Everett,  who  has  for  months  devoted  his  whole  time  to 
designing  and  perfecting  the  beautiful  machinery  that  has  so  success- 
fully paid  out  the  Cable  from  the  ships — machinery  so  perfect  in 
every  respect,  that  it  was  not  for  one  moment  stopped  on  board 
the  Niagara  until  she  reached  her  destination  in  Trinity  Bay. 


'92      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

To  Mr.  W„„„„„,3.,  who  superintended  the  coiUng  of  the  CahU 
^d  .eaIou„y  and  abl,  c„-ope...ed  with  hi.  brother  engineer  durin"; 
the  progress  of  paying  out.  ^ 

To  the  electricians,  for  their  constant  watcWulness 

tha?™'  T:'"  *"  '"°"'  ""*"  '•""■  "">  I  <•-■  "-Went 
that  you  w,U  have  a  good  report  from  the  Commander,  engineer, 

electncans,  «,d  others  on  board  the  A,a^^.  .nd  rLrol,  the 
Irish  portion  of  the  fleet.  ' 

To  the  Directors  of  the  Atlantic  Tele^aph  Company,  for  the  Ume 
they  have  devoted  to  the  undertaking,  without  receiv,,,,  any  com 
P^nsafon  f„.  their  services,  and  it  must  be  a  pleasure  to  mLTrf 
you  to  know  that  the  Director  who  has  devoted  mo.e  timcThl 
any  other,  vva,  for  many  years,  a  resident  of  this  piaee,  and  we^ 
known  to  a„  of  you.    I -htde  to  Mr.  B»„o™o,  o'f  London.    To 
Mr.  a  M  W«o„,  a  native  of  New  England,  but  who  has  for  the 
h.t  twenty-seven  yea.  resided  in  Londo.,,  who  appreciated  the 
great  .mportancc  of  this  ente-prise  in  both  countries,  and  gave  i 
most  valuable  aid,  bHn^ng  his  sound  judgment  and  g-^eat  buTn 
talent  to  the  service  of  the  Company. 

To  that  distinguished  American,  Mr.  G.onoE  PrxBonr,  and  his 
most  worthy  partner,  Mr.  Moaa,»,  who  not  only  assisted  it  mos^ 
hberahy  w.U>  their  means,  but  to  whon;  I  could  always  go  w  ft 
confidence  for  advice. 

I  shall  rejoice  ix>  find  that  the  commercial  interests  of  this  colony 

*  t  w,n  now  be  drawn  by  the  agency  of  the  Atlantic  TCegraoh 
between  them,  and  the  varied  relations  they  hold  throughouTthe 
wld;  and  w«h,„g  you  all  every  prosperity  and  h.ppine^, 
I  am  your  very  grateful  friend, 

Cyrus  W.  Field. 


The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt.      193 


In  closing  this  record  of  the  progress  of  the  Atlantic 
Telegraph,  it  would  be  unjust  to  pass  unnoticed  the 
pubUc  demonstrations  of  joy  at  the  success  of  the  under- 
taking. The  whole  Union  rejoiced  together.  Every 
city,  town,  village,  and  hamlet  in  all  parts  of  ;'ie  country, 
sought  to  testify  its  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  work. 
The  proclamation  of  a  peace  ai^ter  an  exterminating  war- 
fare, could  not  have  produced  a  more  general  outburst 
of  enthusiastic  congratulation.  It  is  no  unimportant 
part  of  the  history  of  the  entexprise  to  specify  some  of 
these  spontaneous  demonstrations ;  a  considerable  spacs 
in  the  Appendix  of  this  wo/k  is  accordingly  devoted  to 
a  general  summary  of  the  popular  demonstrations  which 
occurred  in  diiferent  parts  of  the  United  States,  on  the 
receptioix  of  tidings  of  complete  success — demonstrations 
remarkable  alike  for  their  spontaneity  and  wild  enthu- 
siasm. 

The  Atlantic  Telegraph  is  therefore  a  fact.  A  won- 
derful work  has  been  accomplished  within  the  compass 
of  a  few  months.  But  two  or  three  years  elapsed  from  the 
inception  of  the  enterprise  to  its  triumphant  accomplish- 
ment. England  and  America  are  placed  within  whis- 
pering distance  of  each  other :  a  new  link  in  the  chain 
of  destiny  has  been  forged ;  the  electric  current  binds 
two  great  nations  together  in  bonds  of  amity :  the  world 
has  made  a  gigantic  stride  in  tLp.  path  of  progress : — the 


9 


194      The  Third  and  Successful  Attempt. 

men  who  live  in  this  day  have  reason  to  hope  for  the 
accomplishment  of  undertakings  hitherto  considered 
impossil  ic,  and  a  new  era  dates  from  the  laying  of  a 
Cable  in  the  Ocean. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


i 


WORKING  THE  ATLANTIC  TELEGRAPH — THE  TERMINI  OF 

THE  :  'NE. 

TIME  must  test  the  practical  operation  of  the  Atlantic 
Telegraph.  Messages  have  passed  over  its  entire 
length,  the  Cable  is  in  working  order,  and  the- electricians 
express  satisfaction  at  the  operation  of  the  current.  But 
there  is  still  a  doubt  whether  a  single  small  Cable  will 
suffice  for  the  accommodation  of  the  business  which  must 
flow  to  this  oceanic  line.  Another  Cable,  pcrliaps  a 
number,  will  probably  be  found  requisite  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  Commerce.  With  new  applications  to 
meet  the  increasing  demand,  will  come  improvements 
suggested  by  experience.  For  the  present,  the  initial 
enterprise  accomplishes  all  that  we  can  justly  expect ; 
and  with  the  future  lies  the  solution  of  the  difficulties 
which  have  accompanied  the  beginning  of  th£  enterprise. 
The  primary  source  of  the  influence  which  was  charged 
with  the  service  of  Atlantic  Telegraphy,  wa.s  a  giant 
volUiic   battery,   of    ten    capacit^us    cells,    termed    the 


.  i 


i^Ks^ 


19^)    Telegraph- The  Termini  of  the  Line. 

"Whitchouse    Laminated    or    Perpetual    Maintenance 
Batterj,"  a  title  designating  one  pejuliarity  .vUich  espe- 
cially fits  it  for  employment.    This  battery  is    lade  upon 
the  Smee  principle,  so  far  as  the  adoption  of  a  quadran- 
gular trough  of  gutta  percha,  wood  strengthened  outside, 
in  which  dilute  acid  is  contained,  the  proportion  of  acid 
to  water  being  one  part  in  15  or  16.     Tliere  are  grooves 
in  the  gutta  percha,  into  which  several  metal  plates  slide 
in  a  vertical  position.     Tiiese  plates  are  silver  and  zinc 
alternately,  but  they  are  not  pairs  of  plates  in  an  electri- 
cal sense.     Each  zinc  plate  rests  firmly  at  the  bottom  on 
a  long  bar  of  zinc,  which  runs  from  end  to  end  of  the 
trough,  and  thus  virtually  unites  the  whole  into  one 
continuous  extent  of  zinc,  presenting  not  less  than  2  000 
square  inches  of  excitable  surface  to  the  exciting  liquid 
Eacli  silver  plate  hangs  in  a  similar  way  from  a  metallic 
bar,  which  runs  from  end  to  end  of  the  trough  above 
the  whole  of  the  silver  being  thus  virtually  united  into 
one  continuous  surface  of  equal  extent  to  the  fue^  of  the 
zinc.     The  zinc  does  not  reach  so  high  as  tiie  upper 
longitudinal  bur,  and  the  silver  does  not  hang  down  as 
low  iuH  the  inferior  longitudinal  bar.    The  battery  is  thus 
composed  of  a  s.-nglc  pair  o.f  laminated  plates,  although 
to  the  eye  it  seems  to  bc^  made  up  of  several  pairs  of 
l>]at<'8.     Nat.ire  ha.s  srt  the  example  of  arranging  ex- 
tended surface  into  redui.lieated  folds,  when  i*    .  requiro.l 
that  such  Burfuce  shall  be  packed  away  in  a  narrow  space 


Teiegrapli  — The  Termini  of  the  Line.     197 

at  tlie  same  time  tliat  a  large  acting  area  is  preserved,  in 
the  laminated  antenna}  of  the  cockchafer.  The  antennaj, 
indeed,  are  the  types  of  the  Whitehouse  battery.  If  any 
one  of  these  reduplicated  segments  of  either  kind  ol' 
metal  is  removed,  the  remaining  portion  continues  its 
action  steadily,  the  effect  merely  being  the  same  that 
would  be  produced  if  a  fragment  of  an  ordinary  pair  of 
plates  were  tcmporariiy  cut  away.  The  silver  laminas 
are  of  considerable  thickness,  and  securely  "platinated" 
all  over-  -that  is,  j)latinum  is  thrown  down  upon  their 
surfaces  in  a  compact  metallic  form,  and  not  merely  in 
the  black  pulverulent  state ;  consequently  they  are 
almost  exempt  from  wear.  Each  zinc  lamina  is  with- 
drawn as  soon  as  its  amalgamation  is  injuriously  affected, 
or  so  soon  as  its  own  substance  is  iuainly  eaten  away  by 
the  action  of  the  chemical  menstruum  in  which  it  is 
immersed,  and  a  freshly  amalgamated,  or  new  zinc 
lamina,  is  inserted  into  its  j)lacr*.  The  capability  of  the 
piecemeal  renewal  of  the  consumptive  element  of  the 
battery  in  this  inteq)olutory  and  fragmentary  way,  is 
then  llie  cau?e  of  its  '' juTpetual  maintaining"  j)owcr. 
The  intensity  of  a  voltaic  arrang(>in«M't  depends  njM)ii 
tl.f  number  of  it»s  pairs  of  plates,  or  cells.  If,  in  tli(^ 
experiment,  the  intensity  <»f  the  electricity  had  be^-n 
incre.'use^l,  without  any  ahi^'ratiou  of  (juantity,  merely  by 
multiplying  tiie  number  of  the  eclls  ciigagiMl,  or  by  somo 
analogous  ino<li(ieatioii  of  itistruMriital  agency,  the  bo<ly 


198    Tt.egraph-The  Termini  of  the  Line. 

wUicL  resisted  the  eurront  of  the  battery  with  sueh  com- 
plete  efieet,  would  have  been  flashed  through  and  burnt 
up,  like  the  frag„.ent  of  metal  that  had  inferior  powera 
01  resistance. 

The  flashes  of  light  and  eraekling  sparks  produeed  on 
making  and  breaking  cont.aet  with  the  poles  of  this  grand 
battery  are  very  undesirable  phenomena  in  oue  partieu- 
tar.     They  are  aeeompanied  by  a  considerable  w.nste  of 
the  n,etal  of  the  pole.     Eaeh  .spark  i.  really  a  eonsider- 
ubio  Iragment  of  the  metal  absorbed  into  itself  by  the 
eleetncal  agent,  so  to  speak,  and  flown  away  with  by  it 
To  avo.d  this  danger,  an  ingenious  eont.ivanee  of  the 
Eleetr,c,an   of  the  Company  will   be  u.s^.d.     ,.i^t    he 
amngnl  a  set  of  twenty  br.^s.  springs,  .something  of'  the 
form  and  appearance  of  the  keys  of  a  musical  instrument 
.n  oppos.te  pairs,  so  that  a  round  horizont,.d  bar,  turning 
•..vot-ways  on  its  own  centre,  and  flattened  a  the  top 
could  ,,ft  by  an  edge  either  of  the  sets  of  Urn  sprin,^' 

If  7  t '"  ;'  "^"  '"-"'•  This  enabled  the  cont;: 
to  be  .l,.,tn  ,utc.d  thr„ugh  the  entire  length  of  the  e,I.e 
■■■"'•  ''.vadth  of  the  bra.,  springs,  and  the  eou.e  of  ,t 

^•;'"''V",'"^'"^'''-'''''' ••'•-"'■•"■•«'>■ -the  right  or  ,ea 

•■■i«.'  1  .0   bar   Keing  w,.Ued  by  a  ..nu.k.hand,e)   w.. 

-■;'''>'-,gl,,,,,.,,.fl.vt..r..prings_therigl.t.,et,it 

.     '";":"'"^^ '•'-"«"- .■-prosentat.ves  of  one  ple 

urmiiL'-cnipt.f   C >,,,.. r. (VI.,     ,-  .,  .  '  -       '** 

.   ..,  ,,,,,,,  ,,.    .^.^  ^|,;irks   uvrc    drstroye.I, 


Telegraph — The  Termini  of  the  Line.    199 

simply  on  account  of  the  large  surface  of  metal,  through 
which  the  electrical  current  had  to  pass  when  contact 
was  completed.  Still  there  remained  enough  to  consti- 
tute a  very  undesirable  residue.  This  was  disposed  of 
finally,  aftor  sundry  tentative  attempts,  by  coiling  a  piece 
of  fine  platinum  wire  and  placing  it  in  a  porcelain  vess«il 
of  water,  and  then  leaving  this  fine  platinum  coil  in 
constant  communication  with  the  opposite  poles.  The 
battery  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  economical 
that  has  ever  been  set  to  work,  considering  the  amount 
of  service  it  is  able  to  perform.  It  is  calculated  that  the 
cost  of  maintaining  the  ten-celled  battery  in  operation  at 
the  terminal  stations  on  either  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
incluu!  g  all  wear  and  tear,  and  consumption  of  materia], 
will  nou  exceed  one  shilling  per  hour. 

The  voltaic  current  therefore  passes  to  a  silk-covered 
wire,  in  innumerable  coils,  enveloping  a  bar  of  sof^  iron 
immediately  sheathed  in  gutta-percha.  Several  miles  of 
this  fine  wire  (No.  20)  are  twined  about  tliis  iron  centre ; 
then  comes  another  coat  of  gutta-})ercha ;  then  another 
coil  of  wire,  thicker  this  time,  (No.  14,)  and  1^  miles  in 
length.  The  voltaic  current,  passing  through  the  wires, 
anu  reacliing  the  iron  core,  converts  it  into  a  powerful 
magnet,  exciting  acurrentof  electricity,  which  is  delivered 
to  the  No.  20  coil,  and  thence  to  tlie  e;ibk',  whence' it 
d('j)arts  on  its  Tranaatlantie  voynge. 

The  traiisjriihsion  current  gcncnitcil  in  these  double- 


H 


200    Telegraph-The  Termini  of  the  Line. 

induction  coils,  on  reaching  the  further  side  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, will  of  course  have  become  somewhat  faint  and  weak 
from  the  extent  of  the  journey  it  has  performed.      It 
will  not,  therefore,  be  set  in  this  state  to  print  or  to  hard 
work ;  but  it  will  be  thrown  into  a  sort  of  nursery,  known 
a^  the  receiving  instrument,  where  it.  flagging  energies 
will  be  restored.     The  conducting  strand  of  the  cable 
will  be  here  made  continuous  with  a  coil  of  wire   gut- 
rounding  a  bar  of  soft  iron,  which  will  become  a  tempo- 
rary magnet,  strong  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  turns 
m  the  coil,  whenever  the  current  parses.     This  temporaiy 
magnet  will  have  its  precise  polarity  determined  by  the 
direction  in  which  the  electric  current  pas.es  along  the 
wire.     The  pole  which  will  be  north  when  the  current 
passes  in  one  direction,  will  be  south  when  the  current 
runs  the  opposite  way.     The  apparatus  relied  upon  by 
the  Company  to  effect  this  object  is  an  improvement  upon 
the  relay  magnet,  which  figured  in  Messrs.  Cooke  and 
Wheatstonk's  patent.     The  advantage  of  it  in,  that  the 
temporary  magnet  has  no  other  work  to  do  than  to  make 
the  small  permanent  magnet  traverse  upon  its  almost 
frictionless  pivot.     On  account  of  this  peculiarity  of  con- 
struction, It  ])osseasos  the  utmost  sensibility.     It  may  be 
J^ut  into  vigorous  action  by  a  sixi)eneo,  and  .  frag.nent 
of  z.nc  placed  on  the  moist  t.mgue.     When  two  or  three 
of  these  instruments  are  scattered  about  in  the  room 


where  the  I;"  ■••!'  i] 
(J 


,1.1. 


niauction  coila  ore  at  work,  they 


Telegraph — The  Termini  of  the  Line.     201 


are  commonly  heard  clicking  backwards  and  forwards 
automatically,  and  doing  a  little  business  on  their  own 
account,  although  no  current  of  any  kind  is  thrown  upon 
their  coils.  They  are  then  merely  traversing  upon  their 
pivots,  obediently  to  the  magnetic  attraction  of  the  great 
bars,  having  their  magnetism  successively  reversed  some 
two  or  three  yardc  away,  and,  curiously  enough,  are 
sympatheacally  recording,  at  such  times,  precisely  the 
same  signals  and  messages  that  the  great  magnets  are 
sending  off  through  the  transmission  coils. 

A  description  of  the  termini  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph 
line  appropriately  completes  this  history. 

The  American  terminus  is  at  Trinity  Bay,  in  New- 
foundland; the  British,  at  Valentia  Bay  on  the  west  coast 
of  Ireland.  The  position  of  these  two  points  is  indicated 
on  the  accompanying  map. 

The  approach  to  Trinity  Bay  is  exceedingly  pictu- 
resque, and  possesses  all  that  wildness  and  grandeur  of 
scenery  which  distinguish  nearly  the  whole  coast  of  New- 
foundland. When  the  weather  is  clear,  the  peaks  of 
the  high  headlands  can  be  seen  some  thirty  miles  out  at 
sea,  and  a  nearer  view  shows  a  country  of  peculiarly 
mountainous  character.  The  first  thing  that  strikes  the 
visitor  is  the  baiTen  and  rocky  nature  of  the  land ;  but 
there  are  some  parts  which  are  particularly  susceptible  of 
cultivation,  and  where,  considering  tlie  inhos})itable  cha- 
racter of  the  climate,  farming  has  been  successfully  curried 

9* 


M 


iv 


i\  1 


202    Telegraph— The  Termini  of  the  Line. 

on.     It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  the  prospects  for 
agricultural  operations  are  not  of  the  most  encouraging 
kind,  and  that  cod-fishing  is,  as  it  must  always  prove, 
the  most  lucrative  occupation.     Between  those  bleak,' 
wild  mountain  ranges  there  are  some  beautiful  little  val- 
leys, through  which  run  streams  of  the  purest,  sparkling 
water.     Indeed,  there  is  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  this 
common  but  valuable  and  necessary  article,  both  in  the 
numerous  lakes,  rivers,  and  streamlets  with  which  the 
whole  island  abounds,  and  which  come  gushing  out  of 
every  rock  in  the  summer  time,  or  are  frozen  up  m  icy 
stillness  and  death  during  the  long  and  cheerless  winter. 
The  entrance  to  Trinity  Bay  is  about  thirty  miles  wide, 
and  on  either  side  rise  the  bold  headlands  of  Baccalo  and 
Horse  Chops— the  latter  of  which  is  about  five  hundred, 
and  the  former  seven  hundred  feet  in  hight.     The  shore 
of  the  bay  is  marked  by  indentations  and  smaller  bays, 
and  inlets  have  been  worn  into  its  rocky  boundaries  by 
the  restless  action  of  the  sea,  which  breaks  here  with 
resistless  fury.     Large  caves,  running  far  into  the  moun- 
tain  barriers,  have  been  hollowed  out  by  the  same  agency, 
and  the  dc:p  scams  that  scar  the  front  of  the  rocks  show 
that  time  has  also  left  his  mark  upon  them. 

The  other  terminus  of  the  line,  is  Valentia  Bay,  which 
is  i)erhaps  the  most  available  point  on  the  whole  southern 
coast  of  Ireland,  both  on  account  of  its  being  the  nearest 
'■'■  -  -wfouudluiui,  and  on  account  of  its  particular  adapta- 


XT 

iiO  IMC 


Telegraph — The  Termini  of  the  Line,    203 

bility  for  a  telegraph  station.     The  county  of  Kerry, 
which  is  indented  by  Yalentia  Bay,  and  in  which  the 
shore  end  of  the  cable  was  landed  on  the  evening  of  the 
6th  of   August,  1857,   is  very  similar  in  its  natural 
features  to  that  pai-t  of  Newfoundland  which  we  have 
just  described.    Huge  mountains  rise  up  on  almost 
every  side,  and  great  masses  of  rock,  in  a  thousand  fan- 
tastic shapes,  stand  out  in  solitary  isolation  miles  from 
the  land.    Two  of  these — of  such  gigantic  dimensions 
that  they  almost  approach  the  dignity  of  mountains — 
guard  the  entrance  of  Dingle  Bay,  like  weather-beaten 
sentinels ;    while  farther  in  from  the  ocean  is  a  long 
mountain  range,  the  face  of  which  is  worn  with  deep 
fissures,  while  its  base  is  hollowed  out  at  irregular  inter- 
vals by  caves,  some  of  which  extend,  according  to  the 
statements  of  the  peasantry,  several  hundred  feet  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  mountains.    The  bay  has  a  depth  in 
some  places  over  a  hundred  fathoms,  but  it  is  so  open  to 
the  sea,  and  the  anchorage  is  so  bad,  that  it  is  one  of  the 
worst  places  which  a  vessel  could  select  in  a  storm.    But 
Valentia  Bay  is  more  protected,  and  although  not  safr  in 
a  storm,  affords  much  better  anchorage.     The  land,  for 
miles  into  the  interior,  is  very  rocky  and  barren,  and 
affords  a  poor  pasturr.ge  for  the  diminutive  but  hardy 
race  of  cattle  for  which  the  county  Kerry  is  so  famous. 
The  huts  of  the  peasantry  which  dot  the  hill  sides,  show 
too  })lainly  the  poverty  of  the  lower  cla^'ses  of  the  people. 


'i 


204    Telegraph— The  Termini  of  the  Line. 


and  ho^  miserably  theij  labor  is  rewarded.    The  ruins 
of  churches,  which  were  built  by  pious  Cathohcs  as  long 
ago  as  the  fourth  or  fifth  century,  are  3trikingly  in  accord- 
ance with  the  impoverished  appearance  of  the  land  and 
of  the  people.     The  Island  of  Valentia  suffered  fearfully 
during  the  famine  in  Ireland,  and  hundreds  died  of  star- 
vation on  the  road  side  or  in  the  miserable  dwfllings, 
some  of  which  still  remain,  and  in  which  their  bodies 
were  found  many  weeks  after  their  death,  unburied,  and 
in  a  horrible  state  of  emaciation.     Within  the  last  few 
years,  it  is  said,  the  condition  of  the  people  haa  consider- 
ably improved. 

About  three  miles  from  the  head  of  Valertja  Bay  is 
the  post  town  of  Cahirciveen,  and  at  the  same  distance, 
but  in  another  dire^^tion,  lies  Knightstown,  a  small  vil- 
lage of  some  five  hundred  inhabitants.     This  village  is 
called  after  the  Knight  of  Kerry,  a  gentleman  who  has 
been  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  of  the  Atlantic 
Telegraph.     The  small  land  cove  in  which  the  bay  ter- 
minates wa&  decided  upon  last  year  as  the  place  for  the 
landing  of  the  cable,  and  has  rot  been  changed  since. 
It  is,  in  fact,  the  very  best  spot  that  could  be  selected. 
J. bout  four  hundred  yards  from  the  beach,  a  telegraph 
building,  somewhat  similar  to  that  at  Trinity  Bay,  New- 
foundland, has  been  erected,  and  supplied  with  everything 
necessary  for  the  business  and  accommodation  of  the 
operators.     The  iunction  with  tho.  nahlp.  xyi]]  be  formed 


Telegraph  —The  Ter.nini  of  the  Line.    205 

by  a  land  line  running  to  Cork,  from  Cork  to  Dublin, 
thence  across  the  channel  to  England,  and  by  other  con- 
nexions with  the  great  net  work  of  telegraphs,  which 
extends  over  the  whole  continent  of  Europe,  and  which 
has  already  embraced  within  ?t  portions  of  Asia  and 
Africa. 


E^G 


^»? 


APPENDIX. 


I. 


ACTION  OP  CONGRESS  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  INTER- 
NATIONAL SUBMARINE  TELEGRAPH. 

In  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  Dec.  23,  1856,  Mr.  Sewakd  sub- 
mitted a  resolution  which  was  unanimously  adopted,  requesting  the 
President  of  the  United  States  to  communicate  to  the  Senate  such 
information  as  he  might  possess,  concerning  the  condition  and  pros- 
pects of  the  proposed  plan  for  connecting  by  submarine  wires  the 
Magnetic  Telegraph  wires  on  this  continent  and  Europe.  In 
response  to  this  resolution,  President  Pierce,  on  the  29th  of  the 
same  month,  transmitted  to  the  Senate  the  following  message  and 
accompanying  correspondence : — 


To  the  Senate  of  the  United  States : 

In  compUance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  23d  instant, 
requesting  the  President  to  communicate  "to  the  Senate,  if  not 
incompatible  with  the  public  interest,  such  information  as  he  may 


••    - 


lAeu 


208 


Appendix. 


have  concerning  the  present  condition  and  prospects  of  a  proposed 
plan  for  connecting  by  submarine  wires,  the  Magnetic  Telegraph 
lines  on  this  continent  and  Europe,"  I  transmit  the  accompanying 
report  from  the  Secretary  of  State. 

^,r    ,  .  Fhankun  Pierce, 

VV  aslungton,  December  29,  1856. 


Department  or  State, 
Washinoton,  Decen^er  26,  1&56. 
The  Secretary  of  State,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  of 
the  Senate  of  the  23d  instant,  requesting  the  President  "to  com- 
municate to  the  Senate,  if  not  incompatible  with  the  public  interest, 
Buch  irxformation  as  he  may  have  concerning  the  present  condition 
and  prospects  of  a  proposed  plan  for  connecting,  by  submarine 
wires,  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  lines  on  this  continent  and  Europe," 
has  the  honor  to  lay  before  the  President  a  copy  of  a  letter  of  the 
15tli  instant,  which  he  has  aI.o  referred  to  this  department,  ad- 
dressed to  him  by  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  New  York, 
Newfoundland,  and  London  I'elegraph  Company. 

W.  L.  Marct. 
To  the  President  of  Uio  United  States. 


Office  of  the  New  Youk,  Newfoundland,  and  London 

Teleoraph  Company, 

New  York,  December  15,  I85G. 

8iR-The  undrr3inrn,.d,  Diroct^ira  of  the  New  York,  Newfound- 

InniJ    on.l    T,»...l...,    T  .1 1      /-<__ 

'    "'■"   -"-"fs""!'"  v.wiupr»ny,  imvo  tiie  iionor  lo  mlorni 

you  that  contraofa  have  boon  made  Sbr  the  manufacture  of  the  sub- 


Appendix. 


209 


marine  telegraphic  Cable,  to  connect  the  continents  of  Europe  and 
America;  and  that  it  is  expected  to  have  the  line  between  New- 
York  and  London  open  for  business  by  the  4th  of  July,  1857.     A 
communication  to  this  effect  having  been  laid  before   the  I^rds 
Commissioners  of  her  Britannic  Majesty's  Treasury,  elicited  a  reply, 
of  which  we  have  now  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  an  official  cqiy, 
just  received  by  the  United  SUtes'  mail  steamship  AtlarMc,  from 
Cyrus  W.  Field,  Esq.,  Vice-Proeident  of  this  Company.     As  the 
work  has  been  prosecuted  thus  far  with  American  capital,  aided  by 
the  efforts  of  your  Adminis'-ation  to  ascertain  the  feasibility  of  the 
enterprise,  it  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  directors  to  secure  to  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  equal  privileges  with  those  stipu- 
lated for  by  the  British  Government.     To  this  desire  the  LoiMs 
Commissioners  of  the  Treasu-y  have  acceded  in  the  most  liberal 
spirit,  by  providing  "That  the  British  Government  shall  have  a 
priority  in  the  conveyance  of  their  messages  over  all  uiuers,  subject 
to  the  exception  only  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  in 
the  event  of  their  entering  into  an  arrangement  with  the  Telegraph 
Company  similar  in  principle  to  that  of  the  British  Government, 
in  which  case  the  messages  of  the  two  Governments  shall  have 
priority  in  the  order  in  whi.:h  they  arrive  at  the  stations."     In  view 
of  the  great  international  interests  of  this  Government,  and  th.,>  con- 
stant recurrence  of  grave  question.,  in  the  solution  of  which  time 
will  be  an  essential  element,  we  cannot  doubt  that  the  reservation 
,„ade  in  favor  of  the  United  Slates  will  he  deemed  of  great  mo- 
ment.    We  therefore  hasten  to  eommuni-ate  the  facts  to  you,  and 
to  re.,ue.st.  in  view  of  the  fact  that  llie  pre.eut  Conp-.^ss  ;n  il  soon 
tonninate  its  existence,  and  that  -lie  Cable  will  Lc  laid,  if  no  ;hv,- 
.tent  prevcnt.s,  before  the  new  (\nigress  .nmmenees  it.s  se..ion,  tl.at 


yiMi   wi 
illlrii 


11  tak 


e   su( 


■Il  netion   m   Hn-  ]uemises  11.1  yn 


,f  t!ii4  (foverntnrnt  to  re(iuire 


210 


Appendix. 


Tlic  Company  will  enter  into  a  contract  with  the  Government  of 
the  Un-t^u  States  on  the  sauic  terms  and  conditions  as  it  has  made 
with  the  British  Governmp  :  such  a  contract  will,  we  suppose,  fall 
within  the  provisions  of  th,  <  titution  in  regard  to  postal  arrange- 
ments, of  which  this  is  only  a  new  and  improved  form. 

"We  have  tlie  honor,  also,  to  call  your  attention  to  the  second 
proviso  in  the  letter  of  the  Lords  Commissioners,  to  the  following 

effect : 

"  Her  Majesty's  Government  engages  to  furnish  the  aid  of  ships 
to  make  what  soundings  may  still  be  considered  needful,  or  to  verify 
those  already  taken,  and  favorably  to  consider  any  request  that  may 
be  made  to  furnish  aid  by  their  vessels  in  laying  down  the  cable." 

We  are  informed  that  no  private  steamships  now  built  are 
adapted  to  laying  a  cable  of  such  dimensions  as  is  proposed  to  be 
used,  but  that  the  war-steamers  recently  finished  by  our  Govern- 
ment are  arranged  to  the  very  best  advantage  for  this  purpose. 

To  avoid  failure  in  laying  ihe  Cable,  it  is  desirable  to  use  every 
precaution,  and  we  therefore  have  the  honor  to  request  that  you 
will  make  such  recommendations  to  Congress  as  will  secure  author- 
ity to  detail  a  steamship  for  this  purpose,  so  that  the  glory  of 
a(;conip1isliing  what  has  been  justlv  styled  "the  cruwning  enterprise 
of  the  ape"  may  be  divided  between  tlic  greatest  and  freest  Govern- 
ments on  the  face  of  the  globe. 

With  great  respect,  wo  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  your  moat  obe- 
dient servanta, 

1'ktku  CooPKii,  President. 

M.   O.   RoBKUTS, 

Moses  Tayi  'K, 

Wu.^'jN  G.  IIuvj'.  Di'cctora. 


Tiif  rr'-sulfiit  ot'tlio  rniti'd  SfntivA. 


Appendix. 


211 


Treasury  Chambers,  November  20,  1855. 

Sib, — Having  laid  before  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  her  Ma- 
jesty's Treasury  your  letter  of  the  13th  ultimo,  addressed  to  the 
Earl  of  Clarendon,  requesting,  on  behalf  of  the  New  York,  New- 
foundland, and  London  Telegraph  Company,  certain  privilege?  :;ad 
protection  in  regard  to  the  line  of  telegraph  which  it  is  proposed  to 
establish  between  Newfoundland  and  Ireland,  I  am  directed  by  their 
loraships  to  acqun  at  you  that  they  are  prepared  to  enter  into  a 
contract  with  the  said  Telegraph  Company,  based  upon  the  follow- 
ing conditions,  viz: 

1.  It  is  understood  that  the  capital  required  to  lay  down  the  line 
will  be  (£350,000)  threa  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  pounds. 

2.  Her  Majesty's  Government  engage  to  furni.^h  the  aid  of  ships 
to  take  what  soundings  may  stiU  be  considered  needful,  or  to  verify 
those  already  taken,  and  favorably  to  consider  any  request  that  may 
be  made  to  furnish  aid  by  their  vessels  in  laying  down  the  Cable. 

3.  The  British  Government,  from  the  time  of  the  completion  of 
the  Une,  and  so  long  as  it  shall  continue  in  working  order,  under- 
takes to  pay  at  the  rate  of  (£14,000)  fourteen  thousand  pounds  a 
year,  being  at  the  rate  of  four  per  cent,  on  the  assumed  capital  a?  a 
fixed  remuneration  for  the  work  done  on  behalf  of  tlie  Government, 
in  the  conveyance  outward  and  homeward  ol  their  messages.  This 
paynitnt  to  continue  imtil  the  net  profits  of  the  Company  are  equal 
to  a  dividend  of  six  pounds  per  cent.,  when  the  payment  shall  bo 
nMlvuH'd  to  (C10,000)  ten  thousand  pound.s  a  year,  for  a  period  of 
twcnty-iive  years. 

It  is,  liow<-ver,  understood  that  if  the  Govi-rnnient  message  n 
:uiy  year  shall,  at  the  usual  tariff  rate  diarged  tothe  puliiic,  am  -unt 
to  a  larger  sum,  sucti  additional  payment  siiaii  be  made  as  is  equiva- 
lent thereto. 


212 


Appendix. 


[, 


4.  That  the  British  Government  shall  have  a  priority  in  the  con 
vejance  of  their  messages  over  all  others,  subject  to  the  exoeptioi 
only  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  in  the  event  of  thei 
entering  .n  o^  arrangement  with  the  Telegraph  Company  simila 
in  princii  *hat  of  the  British  Government,  in  which  case  th. 

messages  of  tl.-e  two  Governments  shall  have  priority  in  tlie  ordei 
ia  which  they  arrive  at  the  stations. 

5.  That  t^e  tariff  of  charges  shall  be  fixed  with  the  consent  of 
the  Treasury,  and  shaU  not  be  increased  without  such  consent  being 
obtained,  as  long  as  this  contract  lasts. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

James  Wilson. 
CvRcs  W.  Field,  Esq.,  37  Jermyn  Street. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1857,  Mr.  Seward  obtained  leave  to  intro- 
duce a  bill  (S.  No.  493)  to  expedite  telegraphic  communication  for 
the  use  of  the  Government  in  foreign  intercourse;  which  was  read 
twice,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Post  Ofiice  and  Post 
Roads;  and  on  the  13th  of  January,  it  was  reported  back  by  Mr. 
CoLLAMER  without  amendment.  On  the  21st  of  January,  the  Se- 
nate proceeded  to  its  consideration. 

In  the  course  of  the  debate,  in  wliich  Senators  Seward,  Hall, 
Risk,  Douglas,  Collamer,  Toicet,  and  others  participated,  Mr! 
Seward  used  the  following  remarkable  language: 

Mr.  Sewar,.:  Tliere  was  an  American  citizen  who,  in  the  year 
1770,  or  •lu.r,.;.l„>ut,  indicated  to  tiiis  r.-untry,  to  Great  Britain  and 
to  the  world,  the  use  of  the  lightning  t.,r  .lu-  pu.  poses  of  comnumi.v 
t.on  ,T  intelligen.H',  an.l  that  w.-.s  r,,.  Franklin.  I  am  .^ure  that 
?::ere  in  nut  uAy  no  hivmbvi  ui  liie  Senate,  but  no  American  citi- 
y.vn,  however  humble,   who  would  bo  willing  to  have  struck  out 


Appendix. 


213 


ted, 

Mr. 

the 

year 

Uin 

an<l 

irnuni('„ 

ure 

tliat 

can 

citi- 

uck 

out 

from  the  achievements  of  Americau  invention  thia  great  discovery 
of  the  lightning  aa  an  agent  for  the  uses  of  human  society. 

The  suggestion  made  by  that  distinguished  and  illustrious  Ameri- 
can was  followed  up  some  fifty  years  afterwards  by  another  sugges- 
tion and  another  indication  from  another  American,  and  that  was 
Mr.  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  who  indicated  to  the  American  Govern- 
ment the  means  by  which  ♦^he  hghtning  could  be  made  to  write, 
and  by  which  the  telegraph  wires  could  be  made  to  supplj  the  place 
of  wind  and  steam  for  carrying  intelligence. 

We  have  followed  out  these  suggestions  of  these  eminent  Ameri- 
cans hitherto,  and  I  am  sure  at  a  very  small  cost.  The  Government 
of  the  United  Suites  appropriated  $40,000  to  test  tht  practicability 
of  Morses  suggestion  ;  the  $40,000  thus  expended  establishe<i  its 
pnvtjticability  and  its  use.  Now,  there  is  no  person  on  the  face  of 
the  globe  who  can  measure  the  price  at  which,  if  a  reasonable  man, 
he  would  be  willing  to  strike  from  the  world  the  use  of  the  magne- 
tic telegraph  as  a  means  of  communication  between  different  por- 
tions of  the  same  country.  This  great  invention  is  now  to  be 
brought  into  its  further  wider  and  broader  use — the  use  by  the 
general  society  of  nations,  international  use,  the  use  of  the  society 
of  mankind.  Its  benefits  are  largo — just  in  proportion  to  the  extent 
and  scope  of  it^  operation.  They  are  not  merely  benefits  to  the 
Government,  but  tliej  are  benefits  to  the  citizens  and  subjects  of  all 
nations  anc'  of  all  States.  I  think  there  is  not  Uving  in  the  StaU»  of 
South  Carolina,  or  Tennessee,  or  Kentucky,  or  Virginia,  a  man  wlio 
would  be  willing  to  have  the  use  of  the  telegraph  dispensed  with  or 
overthrown  in  reducing  the  cost  of  exchange  of  ins  particular  pro- 
ducts to  the  markets  of  the  United  States.  I  think  so  beeaase  of 
the  celerity  with  which  comtuuuication  of  the  state  of  demaml  and 
yupt'ly  in  a  distant  market  alVects  the  value  of  the  auicle  in  the 
luinds  of  the  p  oducer,  and  reduces  by  so  much  tlio  cost  of  tlie  agea- 


hi  ; 

Pi 
pi 
ill 

ill 


214 


Appendix. 


t 


cies  employed  in  its  sale.  Precisely  the  same  thing  w-hich  thus  hap- 
pens at  home  must  necessarily  happen  wh.n  you  apply  it  to  more 
remote  markets  in  othe:  parts  of  the  world. 

I  might  enlarge  further  on  this  subject^  but  I  forbear  to  do  so, 
because  I  know  i^' .,  at  some  future  time  I  shall  come  across  the 
record  of  what  I  have  said  to-day.  I  know  that  then  what  I  have 
said  to-day  by  way  of  anticipation,  will  fall  so  far  short  of  tlie  reaUty 
of  the  benefits  which  individuals,  states,  and  nations  will  have  de- 
rived from  this  great  enterprise,  that  I  shall  not  reflect  upon  it  with- 
out disappointment  and  mortiiication. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  debate  the  bill  was  passed,  as  follows: 

A  BILL  TO  ExpEDiTK  Telkgraphio  Communication  for  the  Uses  of 
TUE  Government  and  its  Foreign  Intercourse. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  Secretary 
of  State,  in  the  discretion  and  under  the  direction  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  may  contract  with  any  competent  person, 
persons,  or  association,  for  the  aid  of  the  United  States  in  laying 
down  a  Subamrine  Cable,  to  connect  <  xisting  Telegraphs  between 
the  coast  of  Newfoundland  and  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  for  the  use 
of  such  submarine  communication,  when  established^  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  United  Slates,  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  shall 
seem  to  Uie  President  just  and  reasonable,  not  exceeding  $70,000 
per  annum,  until  the  net  profits  of  such  person,  or  persons,  or  asso- 
ciation, shall  be  equal  to  a  dividend  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  and 
ihen  not  exceeding  $50,000  per  annum  for  twenty-five  years :  Pro- 
vided, That  tlie  Government  of  Great  Britain  shall,  before  or  at  the 
same  time,  enter  into  a  Uke  contract  for  those  purposes  with  the 
same  person,  persons,  or  association,  and  upon  terms  of  exact  equa- 
hty  witli  those  stipulated  by  tlie  United  States:  And  Praviikd,  That 


Apj>endix. 


215 


the  tariff  of  prices  for  the  use  of  such  submarine  communication  by 
the  public  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Government  of  Great  Britain,  or  its  author- 
ized agents :  Provided  further,  That  the  United  States  and  the  citi- 
zens thereof  shall  enjoy  the  use  of  the  said  Submarine  Telegraph 
comraunication  for  a  period  of  fifty  years,  on  the  san)-^  terms  and 
conditions  which  shall  be  stipulated  in  favor  of  the  Government  of 
Great  Britain,  and  the  subjects  tbereoi",  m  the  contract  so  to  be 
entered  into  by  such  person,  persons,  or  association,  with  that  Go- 
vernment: Provided  further,  That  the  contract  30  to  be  made  by 
the  British  Government,  shall  not  be  diflerent  from  that  already 
proposed  by  that  Government  to  the  New  York,  Newfoundland, 
and  London  Telegraph  Company,  except  such  provisions  as  may  be 
necessary  to  secure  to  ea^h  Government  the  transmis&ion  of  its  own 
messages  by  its  own  agents, — [Approved,  March  3,  1857.] 


The  Charter  of  the  Compant,  passed  by  Parliamest. 

The  Act  of  Incorporation  of  this  Company  obtained  at  the  second 
Session  of  the  English  ParUament  for  the  year  1857,  and  receiving 
the  Royal  assent  July  27  of  that  year,  is  a  document  of  twenty-ono 
pages.  It  is  entitle!  "An  ict  to  incorporate  and  regulate  the 
Atlantic  Telegraph  Company,  and  to  enable  the  Company  to  esta- 
blish and  work  Telegraphs  between  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  New- 
foundland ;  and  for  other  purposes."  It  begins  by  setting  forth 
that  in  October,  1856,  a  company  vas  estAblibhed  in  England  to  con- 
nect Great  Britain  or  Ireland  with  Newiornuiuial  hy  a  SuC'riianne 
electric  Telegraph,   thus   establishing   electric   communication  be- 


2l6 


Appendix. 


t\V(jen  Europe  and  America,  having  a  capital  of  three  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  divided  into  three  hundred  shares  of  one  thousand 
pounds  each.  The  number  of  shares  was  afterwards  increased  to 
three  hundred  and  fifty,  all  of  which  wer'  issued,  and  the  sum  of  p'l: 
hundred  pounds  was  paid  upon  each  share.  It  also  set  forth  that  in 
consequence  of  agreements  entered  into  with  other  companies  and 
persons,  and  in  order  that  the  undertaking,  which  is  one  of  great 
public  and  national  importance,  shall  be  speedily  carried  into  execu- 
tion, it  is  desirable  that  a  new  company  (including  the  original 
shareholders)  should  be  constituted  with  the  necessity  powers  to 
carry  out  the  undertaking ;  and  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company  was 
therefore  incorporated,  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges,  and  assum- 
ing all  the  liabilities  entered  into  by  the  old  company.  The  right 
was  granted  to  the  new  company,  by  a  two-thirds  votf ,  to  Increase 
the  capital  stock  to  £1,00,000,  the  Directors  having  authority  to 
create  additional  shares  of  not  more  than  £1,000  nor  less  than  £20 
each.  The  r'ght  was  given  to  boiTOw  one-third  of  the  capital  on 
bond  or  mortgage,  but  one-third  of  the  money  icceived  for  calls 
must  be  applied  to  iV  repayment  of  such  money  until  the  whole 
shall  be  discharged. 

Ten  shareholders  holding  stock  to  the  amount  (  f  £15,000,  have 
authority  to  require  the  Directors  to  call  an  extraordinary  meeting 
of  the  Company,  the  time  of  the  annual  meeting  being  fixed  for  the 
month  of  February,  in  London ;  twenty  shareholders  having  stock 
to  the  amount  of  £50,000  constituting  a  quorum.  A  two-thirds 
vote  of  the  Company  shall  authorize  the  Directors  to  subdivide  the 
£1,000  shares  int )  fifty  shares  of  £20  each,  a  £1,000  share  con- 
ferring fifty  votes  upon  the  holder.  The  Board  of  Directors  is  fixed 
at  eiglueen,  but  the  number  may  be  reduced  at  any  general  meet- 
ing, but  not  below  eight.  The  qualification  of  a  Director  is  the 
holding  of  £1,000  in  the  stock  of  the  Company,  and  the  Dir     tors 


Appendix. 


-17 


of  the  original  Company  shall  be  the  first  Directors  of  the  ne',.  Com- 
pany. The  remuneration  of  the  Directors  is  to  be  fixed  by  the 
stockholders.  The  Company  has  authority  to  elect  fr'^m  the  share- 
holders ordinarily  resident  in  the  United  States  or  tne  British  Pro- 
■«^inces  of  North  America,  not  more  thin  eight  from  the  former  and 
four  from  the  latter,  who  shall  be  Honorary  Directors,  shall  have  the 
right  to  be  present,  take  part  in  and  vote  at  the  meeting  of  Direc- 
tors, but  are  not  to  be  counted  in  determining  whether  there  is  a 
quorum,  and  shall   aceive  no  remuneration  for  their  services. 

The  British  Government  reserves  the  right  to  appoint  an  ex-ofllcio 
Director  of  the  Company,  for  the  purpose  01  securing  Jie  due  fulfil- 
ment on  the  part  of  tae  Company  of  all  contracts  for  the  transmis- 
sion of  signals  and  messages  ^or  her  Majesty  or  on  her  Majesty's 
service.  This  ex-officio  Director  is  not  to  go  out  of  office  with 
the  other  Directors,  but  he  is  removable  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
Government  He  is  to  be  a  shareholder  in  the  Company  or  not, 
as  the  Government  may  think  fit;  he  is  to  be  present  at  all 
meetings  of  the  Directors  and  of  the  Company ;  and  has  power  to 
examine  all  books  and  documents  of  the  Company ;  but  has  not 
the  right  to  vote,  and  does  not  receive  any  remuneration  from  the 
Company, 

He  has  the  powsr,  in  case  he  is  of  opinion  that  any  act  or 
course  of  the  Company  is  prejudicial  to  the  performance  of  tlie  con- 
tracts with  Government,  or  the  regular,  speedy,  and  impartial  trans- 
mission if  messages  for  the  public,  or  otherwise  disadvantageous  to 
Government  or  the  pubhc,  to  veto  the  taking  of  such  course  or  tno 
doing  of  such  act,  when  the  matter  shall  be  referred  to  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Treasury,  whose  opinion  shall  be  final,  unless 
the  Board  of  Directors  see  fit  to  appeal  to  two  Judges  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court  at  Westminster,  whose  decision  shaii  be  final  and  con- 
clusive on  all  parties.     The  election  of  Directors  of  the  Company, 

lU 


i 


2l8 


Appendix. 


'II 


I' 


ordinary  or  honorary,  is  subject  to  the  appio"al  of  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners  of  the  Treasury. 

The  undertaking  of  the  Company  was  set  forth  to  be  the  laying 
down  of  one  or  more  submarine  Telegraph  Cables  betweer.  Ireland 
and  Newfoundland,  or  on  the  Continent  of  America,  and  the  work- 
ing of  such  Unes.     They  are  authorized  and  empowered  to  make 
arrangements  with  the  New  York,  Newfoundland,  and  London  and 
other  Companies,  for  the  transmission  of  messages  and  for  the 
charges  on  the  sume,  a.  may  be  necessary  for  the  carrying  out  of  the 
object  of  the  Company.     They  are  empowered  to  fix  and  receive 
reasonable  charges  for  the  transmission  of  messages,    and    may 
demand  pre-payment  of  the  same.     With  the  exception  of  the  pri- 
ority of  government  messages,  aU  others  for  the  public  are  to 
be  received  and  sent  without  favor  or  preference,  according  to  the 
order  of  time  in  w     ;h  they  shall  have  been  received  by  the  Com- 
pany.    The  following  section  m  regard  to  the  right  of  government 
priority,  we  quote  entire: — 

"  LVI.  All  messiges  and  signals  sent  or  forwarded  for  transmis- 
sion and  delivery  lu.  her  Majesty  or  on  Her  Majesty's  service  shall 
have  priority  over  aU  other  messages  whatsoever,  and  it  shall  be 
imperative  on  the  Company,  their  officers  and  servants,  to  transmi; 
and  dehver  such  messages  and  signals  accordingly,  and  to  suspend 
the  transmission  of  all  or  any  other  messages  until  the  said  messages 
and  signals  shall  first  have  been  transmitted;  Provided,  always 
tiiat  the  Company  may,  in  consideration  of  a  guarantee  or  subsidy 
granted  or  secured  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  equal 
in  rate  or  amount  to  tliat  granted  by  or  on  behalf  of  her  Majesty's 
Government,  grant  ami  extend  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  the  like  priority  for  intelligence,  on  and  for  their  service  over 
all  othci-  messages  and  signals  whatsoever,  except  those  for  her 
Majesty  or  on  her  Majesty's  service,  and  after  they  shall  have  so 


Appendix. 


219 


done,  and  shall  have  notified  their  having  so  done  to  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  her  Majesty's  Treasury,  the  messages  and  signals 
on  the  service  of  the  Government  of  the  Uni  "ed  States  shall  thence- 
forward be  entitled  to,  and  shall  have,  during  the  continuance  in 
force  of  any  such  guaranty  or  subsidy,  the  Uke  priority  as  messages 
and  signals  for  her  Majesty  or  on  her  Majesty's  service  over  those 
of  all  other  persons  whomsoever,  and  thenceforward  messages  and 
signals  for  her  Majesty  or  on  her  Majesty's  service,  and  those  on  the . 
service  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  shall,  as  between 
themselves,  have  no  right  of  priority,  but  be  transmitted  and  deli- 
vered respectively  in  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  may  be 
respectively  tendered  for  transmission  and  dehvery." 

If  the  Government  and  the  Company  cannot  agree  upon  the  rate 
of  remuneration  for  sending  public  messages,  tlie  matter  is  to  be 
settled  by  referees. 

The  Company  is  authorized,  whether  or  not  they  shall  grant  for 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  any  such  priority  as  is  stated 
in  the  section  before  quoted,  to  make  arrangement  with  that  Govern- 
ment for  the  transmission  of  their  messages.  The  following  section 
authorizes  the  English  Government,  under  certain  circumstances,  to 
take  possession  of  the  works  of  the  Company. 

"  LXII.  At  all  times  from  and  after  the  period  of  twenty-five 
years  from  the  opei '.ig  of  the  said  l-nes  of  TelagTaph  conmmnica- 
tioii  for  the  transmission  of  messages,  whenever  one  of  her  Majesty's 
principal  Secretaries  of  State  for  the  time  being  shall  be  of  opinion 
tliat  'ircumstances  render  it  expedient  to  vest  in  her  Majesty's 
Goven  ment  the  control  of  the  operations  of  the  Company,  it  shall 
be  lawf  1  for  such  Secretary  of  State,  by  warrant  under  his  hand, 
to  .ase  possossion  to  be  taken  of  all  the  Telegraphs  and  Tele- 
'"aphic  apuaraliis  di  iiie  VaiiuuS  pinuOiiS  Oi  liic  vOmpany,  UiCir 
licenses  or  assigns,  for  the  space  of  one  week  from  the  date  of  such 


220 


A^jpendix. 


i|^ 


■warrant,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  any  communication  being 
made  or  signals  given,  save  such  as  shall  be  directed  and  authorized 
by  any  sucii  Secretary  of  Stute,  and  also  by  further  successive  war- 
rants to  cause  possession  of  the  said  Telegraphs  and  Telegraphic 
apparatus  to  be  retained  from  week  to  week,  so  long  as  any  such 
Secretary  of  State  shall  deem  such  possession  expedient  for  the 
public  service :  Prv/vided  always,  that  for  every  week  during  which 
possession  shall  be  so  retained,  the  Company,  their  hcensees  or 
assigns,  shall  receive  from  and  be  paid  by  the  Lords  Commissioners 
of  her  Majesty's  Treasury,  the  same  amount  of  profits  as  the  Com- 
pany ivould  have  made  in  case  they  had  continued  the  working  of 
the  said  Telegraphs,  such  profits  to  be  computed  upon  an  average 
of  the  weekly  profits  of  the  Company  for  the  three  months  imme- 
diately preceding  the  issuing  of  the  first  of  the  said  warrants." 

Any  negUgence  or  delay  in  the  transmission  of  a  message,  makes 
the  officer  liable  to  a  fine  not  exceeding  £20.  ^^.,  damage  to  the 
works  of  tlie  Company  is  lecoverable  bj  a  suit  at  la^v,  and  any  per- 
son committing  'nich  mjury  is  liable  also  to  punishment  as  for  the 
commission  of  a  misdemeanor. 


Appendix. 


221 


II. 


LIEUT.  M.  F.  MAURY*  ON  THE  FEASIBILITY  OF 
OCEANIC  TELEGRAPHS. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  185^,  mor.  than  four  years  and  a  half 
ago,  Lieut  Maury  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy.     Its  predictions  have  been  signally  vonfied : 

National  Observatort,  * 
WAsmifOTON,  February  Z2,  ''854. 

Sir,— The  United  States  brig  Dolphin,  Lieutenant  Commanding 
0.  H.  Bkrkyman,  was  employed  last  summer  upon  especial  service 
connected  with  the  researches  that  are  carried  on  at  this  office  con- 
cerning the  winds  and  currents  of  the  sea.  Her  observations  were 
confined  principally  to  that  part  of  the  ocean  which  the  merchant- 
men, as  they  pass  to  and  fro  upon  tlie  business  of  trade  between 
Europe^  and  the  UrHed  States,  use  as  their  great  thoroughfare. 
Lieutenant  Berryman  availed  himself  of  this  opportunity  to  carry 
along  also  a  Une  of  deep  sea  soundings  from  the  shores  of  New- 
foundland to  those  of  Ireland.  The  result  is  liighiy  interer^ting,  in 
so  far  as  the  bottom  of  the  sea  is  concerned,  upon  the  question  of  a 
Submarine  Telegraph  across  the  Atlantic  ;  and  I  therefore  beg  leave 
to  make  it  the  subject  of  a  special  report 

This  line  of  deep  sea  soundings  seems  to  be  decisive  of  the  ques- 
tion as  to  the  p. .  McabiUty  of  a  Submarine  Telegraph  btftween  the 
two  .continents,  .>^  so  far  as  the  bottom  of  the  deep  sea  is  concern^.  Flora 
Newfoandland  to  Ireland,  the  distance  between  the  nearest  points 


222 


Appendix. 


l-i* 


is  about  1,600  miles  ;*  and  the  bottom  of  the  sea  bet\/een  the  two 
places  is  a  plateau,  which  seems  to  have  been  placed  there  especially 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  wires  of  a  Submarine  Telej^'raph,  and 
of  keepmg  them  out  of  harm's  way.     It  is  neither  *oo  deep  nor  too 
shallow ;    yet  it  is  so  deep  that  the  wires  but  once  landed,  will 
remain  for  ever  beyond  the  reach  of  vessels'  anchors,  iceb.  rgs,  and 
drifts  of  any  kind,  and  so  shallow  that  the  wires  may  be  readily 
lodged  upon  the  bottom.    The  depth  of  this  plateau  is  quite  regular, 
gradually  increasing  from  the  shores  of  Newfoundland  to  the  depth 
of  from  1,500  to  2,C  )0  fathoms  as  you  approach  the  other  side.    The 
distance  between  Ireland  and  Cape  St.  Charles,  or  Cape  St.  Lewis, 
in  Labrador,  is  somewnat  less  than  the  distance  from  any  point  of 
Ireland  to  the  nearest  point  of  Newfoundland.     But  whether  it 
would  be  better  to  lead  the  wires  from  Newfoundland  or  Labrador 
is  not  now  the  question ;  nor  do  I  pretend  to  consider  the  question 
as  to  the  possibility  of  finding  a  time  calm  enough,  the  sea  smooth 
enough,  a  wire  long  enough,  a  ship  big  enough,  to  lay  a  coil  of  wire 
1600  miles  in  length;  though  I  have  no  fear  hut  thut  the  enterprise 
and  ingenuity  of  the  age,  whenever  called  on  with  those  problems, 
will  be  ready  with  a  -;itisfactory  and  practical  solution  of  them. 

I  simply  address  myself  at  this  tirii(>  to  the  question  m  so  far  as 
Che  bottom  of  the  sea  is  coiicenietl,  and  as  fur  as  that  the  greatest 
practical  dinicultiiM  will,  I  apprehen<l,  be  found  after  reaching  sound- 
ings at  either  end  of  the  line,  and  not  in  the  deep  sea.         ♦         * 

A  wire  laid  across  from  either  of  the  above-name.l  places  on  this 
side  will  p.u^s  to  the  north  of  tiie  Gran<l  Banks,  and  rest  on  that 
beautiful  j)lateau  to  which  I  have  alluded,  and  where  the  waters  of 


•  From  r(iiu>  Freels,  Newtoundlaini.  to  Krris  Hcaii,  Ircliuid.  the  di.stn 


nee 


in  i,tiii  imi-'f*;   iTum  riijK'  Ciiarit's,  or  (.apo  .St.  Lowis,  Labrador,  to  ditto, 
the  distaiico  in  1,(J01  miles. 


Appendix. 


223 


the  sea  appear  to  bo  as  quiet  and  as  completely  at  rest  as  it  is  at  the 
bottom  of  a  mill-pond.  It  is  proper  that  the  reasons  should  be 
stated  for  the  inference  that  there  are  no  perceptible  currents,  and 
no  abradin-  agents  at  work  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  upon  this  Tele- 
graphic Plateau.  I  derive  this  inference  from  a  study  of  a  physical 
fact,  which  I  Uttle  deemed,  when  I  sought  it,  had  any  such  bear- 
ings. 

Lieut  Berryman  brought  up  with  Brooke's  deep-sea  sounding 
apparatus  specimens  of  the  bottom  from  this  plateau.     I  sent  them 
to  Prof.  Bailey,  of  West  Point,  for  examination  under  his  micro- 
scope.    This  he  kindly  gave ;  and  that  eminent  microscopist  was 
quite  as  mu<  h  surprised  to  find,  as  I  vas  to  learn,  that  all  those  spe- 
cimens of  deep-soa  soundings  are  filled  with  microscopic  shells ;  to 
use  his  own  words,  '' not  a  particle  of  sand  or  gravel  exists  in  them:' 
These  little  sheila,  therefore,  suggest  the  fact  that  there  are  no  cur- 
rents at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  whence  they  came— that  Brooke's 
load  found  them  where  they  were  deposited  in  their  burial-]. lace 
after  having  lived  and  died  on  the  surface,  and  by  gradually  sinking 
were  lodged  on  the  bottom.     Had  there  been  currents  at  the  bot- 
tom, these  would  have  swept  -  oradod  and  mingled  up  with 
these  mien  scopic  remains  tl.o  dw     .5  01  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  such 
as  ooze,  sand,  gravel,  and  other  n'  itter;  but  not  a  particle  of  sand 
or  gravel  was  found  among  lUtm.     Hence  tlie  inference  that  tiioso 
depths  of  the  sea  are  not  disturbed  either  by  waves  or  current.'^. 
Consequently,  a  telegraphic  wire  once  laid  there,  there  it  would 
rcnuain,  us  completely  beyond  the  reacli  of  accident  as  it  would  be 
if  buried  in  air-tight  cases.     Therefore,  so  far  as  the  bottom  of  the 
deep  sea  between  Newfoundlaml,  .^r  the  North  Cap.',  at  the  luoutli 

of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  Ireland,  is  concerned,  the  practicability  of 

_  _^  .  •••_■■„_>  *         * 

a  Submarine  leiegnipii  mro:<^<  iin-  Aii.ni.u:  ■-  i-.r..;;;. 

In  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  for  tlic  purpose  of  hastening  the 


224 


Appendix. 


^li 


completion  of  such  a  line,  I  take  tlie  liberty  of  suggesting  for  your 
consideration  the  propriety  of  an  offer  froin  the  proper  soiirce,  of  a 
prize  to  the  Company  through  whose  Telegraphic  Wire  the  first 
message  shall  be  passed  across  the  Atlantic. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respecLfully,  &c.,  » 

M.  F.  Maury,  Lieut.  U.S.  Navy 
Hon.  J.  C.  DoBBiy,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington,  D.C. 

In  December,  1856,  the  follovring  correspondence  passed  :— 

House  or  Representatives, 
Washington,  December  30,  1856. 
Sir, — The  submarine  communication  which  now  excites  so  much 
attention,  both  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and  the  coun- 
try, will,  I  perceive  by  the  map  of  the  ^  rvey,  terminate  on  tiisside 
the  Atlantic  in  the  British  possessions,  t.'.  in  Newfoun  'land. 

Will  you  do  mc  the  favor,  at  your  earUest  convenience,  to  answer 
the  following  questions,  to  wit : 

Is  there  a  point,  U7ider  our  flag ^  which  would  answer  for  the  west- 
ern terminus  ? 

If  not,  what  are  the  obstructions? 

What  influence  would  it  have  in  a  miUtary  point  of  view? 
Very  respecCuUy,  your  obedient  servant, 

,  .  , ,  ^,  „  C.  C.  CUAFFEE. 

l.ieut.  Maury,  U.S.  Navy. 


U.S.N.  Ohservatory  and  HvDRoa.  Okhce. 
Washinqton,  Dcceiuher  31,  IbSG. 
:.    ,-c  rirtivvii  joiir  ri..i<-  ui  liic  SOVn  iusiant,  making  cei- 
tain  ui<iuiri.'9  in  relation  to  tlie  Subinanne  Telegraph  of  the  Atlantic, 


a 


Appendix. 


225 


and  -ishing  to  know  what  are  the  obstructions  which  p  event  the 
western  end  of  the  wire  from  being  brought  straight  across  the  sea 
to  our  own  shores. 

The  difficulties  are  manifold,  and  in  the  present  state  of  the  tele- 
graphic art,  th3y  may  be  considered  insuperable. 

The  shortest  telegraph  distance  between  the  Bn.ish  Islands  and 
the  United  SUtea,  without  touching  English  soil  by  the  way,  i.,  in 
round  numbers,  three  thousand  miles,  and  the  lightning  has  never 
yet  been  made  to  bear  a  message  through  a  continuou  i  wire  of  such 
a  length.     Here,  therefore,  is  an  obstruction. 

The  distance  from  the  Western  Islands  to  the  nearest  point  on 
our  shores  is  about  equal  to  the  distance  between  Newfoundland 
and  Ireland;  and  the  distance  between  3  Irish  coast  and  the 
Western  Islands  is  about  (itleeu  hundred  nules.  Therefore,  with  a 
relay  on  ihe  Western  Islands  a  line  from  Ireland,  via  those  Islands 
to  our  own  sho'<:s,  is  electrically  piacticable. 

But  wire  by  that  route  would  have  to  cross  the  Atlantic  at  its 
deepest  part,  and  then  the  Portuguese  Government,  as  well  as  the 
English,  would  have  control  of  the  line ;  so  that,  in  a  miUtary,  com- 
mercial, or  pohtical  point  of  view,  nothing  would  be  gained  by 
underrunnmg  the  Atlantic  with  the  telegraphic  wires  by  that  route. 
Moreover,  that  route  would  lead  the  wires  across  a  volcanic  region. 
These  constitute  obst.-uctions  that,  in  the  present  state  of  our  know- 
Knige,  are  fatal  to  such  a  route. 

The  onl>  practicable  route  for  a  Submarine  Telegraph  between 
the  United  States  and  Eiighnd  appears  to  be  along  the  "  plateau" 
of  tiio  Atlantic,  whereon  it  is  proposed  to  lay  the  wire  that  is  now 
in  process  of  construction. 

But  suppose  a  Imo  were  to  be  constructed  by  A    erican  entcr- 

.1         T>_:.:^i.     ^1    .-...^    ..II    •!>..    »....«r  »,\    otiki    ivf   liijr    kujji-nyrk 
;;;:'    x;:;;.;.^:i    .  :f--;t.- ,  zzi:    ':-.•      — --j    — ^     ._ 

bonof     In  time  of  pfuce  the  hue  along  the  "  plateau"' 


towns:  cui 


226 


Appendix. 


woul<1  by  reason  of  iU  groiit  ivdviintagca,  take  all  the  business ;  and 
in  war  Uio  British  authorities  need  but  cut  the  Anierean  cord,  or 
t.ikr  charge  of  its  oll'iee  at  the  otlier  end,  to  render  the  whole  hno 
inoperative  or  perfeetly  useless  to  us. 

It  eunnot  but  be  regarded  by  every  wise  and  good  man  as  a  for- 
tunate circunisUince,  that  this  great  enterprise  of  the  sub-Atlantic 
Telegraph  is  the  joint  work  of  England  and  Ameriea.  This  eir- 
euuistance  ought  of  itself  to  serve  as  a  guarantee  to  the  world  that, 
in  ease  of  war— should  war  unhai)pily  ever  be  waged  between  these 
two  nations— that  eord  is  never  to  be  broken,  or  to  be  used 
otherwise  than  freely  and  fairly  alike  by  the  two  nations,  their  citi- 
zens and  subjects. 

We  have  just  seen  the  great  nations  of  Europe  emerging  from  the 
horrors  of  a  fierce  and  bloody  war ;  and  yet,  to  their  honor  and  the 
glory  of  the  ag"  be  it  said,  that  that  strife,  ven-^eful  though  t  was, 
was  nut  savage  enough  to  break  a  single  line  of  telegraphic^  wire. 
Thf  lightning  ran  'o  and  fro  with  messages  between  St.  Peters- 
burgh  and  the  capitals  of  France  and  England,  as  it  now  does.  And 
in  ease  of  war  with  this  eoinUry,  after  that  electric  cord  is  .«tretehed 
by  the  joint  means  and  enter[irise  of  tiie  two  jicoph'  upon  the  quiet 
bottom  of  the  deep  sea,  neitiicr  of  the  two  Govcrnnunts  would  dare 
take  tlmt  cord,  and,  in  tin'  lace  of  the  Chri.^lian  states  and  people  of 
the  age,  convert  it  into  a  military  engine  to  be  turnetl  against  iUs 
joint-owners  and  partners. 

Our  fellow-citizen.i  who  contrived,  planned,  and  brought  forward 
this  noble  work,  are  too  sagneious  and  patriotic  not  to  have  per- 
ceived that  lyinf  as  it  does  wlioUy  within  the  control  of  a  foieiKu 
pow.T,  that  power,  were  it  a  nation  of  (Joths  and  Vantials,  miglit 
tr.ru  the  path  they  were  about  to  make  ft.r  the  lightning  along  the 
be.l  of  liie  ocean  a^rainst  their  owi  co-uitry  in  war;  but  (hey  knew 
(he  people  on  the  other  side,  and  trusted  to  higher  and  nobler  .sen- 


Appendix. 


227 


timente.  The  Biili^h  Government,  iuterfeie  with  the  free  use  oi' 
that  Cable  even  in  war!  The  spu-it  I'  the  age  i.  against  such  an 
act,  and  no  SUte  within  the  pale  of  Christendom,  much  less  that 
great  English  nation  of  noble  people,  would  dare  to  do  such  a  thing. 
Her  people  and  rulers  would  not  if  they  could;  they  could  not  if 
they  would.  We  might  as  well  think  of  tearing  up  now,  in  peace, 
the  railways  between  Canada  and  the  States,  or  of  abrogating  d.e 
steam-engine  because  it  may  be  turned  Pgainst  us  in  war. 

Wl'on  Captain  Cook  was  on  his  voyage  of  discovery,  France  and 
England  were  at  war.  The  king  of  France  was  requested  not  to  lei 
his  armed  cruisers  destroy  the  records  of  that  expedition  in  case 
any  of  them  should  fall  in  with  it.  You  recollect  the  noble  reply : 
"I  war  not  against  science;"  and  forthwith  every  French  man-of- 
war  had  orders  to  treat  Cuok  as  a  friend,  should  they  faU  in  with 
him  ;  and  assist,  not  interrupt,  him  in  the  object  of  his  cruise.  To 
tliis  day  the  memory  of  tliat  king  is  held  in  more  esteem  for  that  act 
and  sentiment  than  for  any  other  act  of  his  reign. 

A  little  more  than  three  years  ago,  at  the  n.a-ilime  conference  of 
Brussels,  where  the  principal  natio.is  of  the  world  assembled  in  the 
persons  of  their  representatives,  to  d.-vise  a  uniform  plan  of  physi- 
cal research  at  sen,  and  to  report  th.'  best  form  for  the  abstra.:t  h.g 
to  be  used  on  board  ship  for  marking  the  observations  upon  its 
winds  and  current.s,  those  functionaries  alluded  to  this  sentiment  of 
,lu.  French  monarch,  and  a.^pealed  each  to  his  own  Government  to 
,„,,,.,.  that,  in  case  of  war,  this  abstract  log  should  also  be  regarded 
as  a  sacred  thi.a^     It  is  made  s...     The  armed  cruisers  of  the  var:ous 
nations  that  are  co-operat.ng  in  this  system  of  research  are  requued 
to  touch  that  record  with  none  but  friendly  hands. 

This  Submarine  Telegraphic  line  is  an  achiev.-ment  whicli  tins 

,     .      _  1       1     . »l,: t.>  i\i\  in   liriiiirinnr  .ibout  : 

very  system  of  resean-u  Tirij  n;ui  r.  ;:::c>.:::::^  ■ ,,     . 

..,n.i  IS  it  likely  that  it  will  or  can  be  monopolizcl  by  any  po^>■.•r  f,.r 


228 


Appendix. 


war  purposes  ?  Fairly  and  dearly  it  may  be  considered  as  the  joint 
property  of  those  who  are  operating  as  r  -workers  and  joint  co- 
laborers  in  that  beautiful  r^stem  of  physical  research  by  whi'.h  a 
way  for  the  hghtning  has  been  discovered  under  the  sea  and  across 
the  ocean. 

This  system  of  research,  it  has  been  proclaimed  over  and  over 
again,  was  not  undertaken  for  the  exclusive  advantage  of  any  one 
people  or  nation,  but  for  the  benefit  of  commerce,  the  advancement 
of  science,  and  for  the  benefit  and  improvement  of  the  whole 
human  ft-rnily ;  and  with  this  understanding  the  nations  of  Europe 
entered  into  it.  ' 

Being  joint  owners  and  equal  participators  in  such  a  great  enter- 
prise as  this,  we  may,  w'  h  propriety,  under  these  circumstances, 
demand  a  fair  participation  in  all  its  advantages. 

But  suppose  we  should  stand  aloof,  and  that  the  enterprise  now 
on  foot  should  be  abandoned  by  our  citizens  and  government,  and 
then  suppose  war  to  come ;  in  less  than  six  months  after  its  decla- 
ration, the  British  government  could,  on  its  own  account,  have  a 
wire  stretched  along  this  telegraphic  plateau  between  Newfoundland 
and  Ireland. 

You  do  not  desire  me  in  your  note  to  consider  the  Chnstianiiiing, 
political,  social,  and  peace-preserving  influences  Avliich  tnis  fascicle 
of  copper  threads,  when  once  stretched  upon  tlie  bed  cf  the  ocean, 
is  to  have,  and  therefore  I  do  not  offer  any  of  the  vie%/s  which  pre- 
sent themselves  from  such  a  stand-point.  This  much,  hov.ever,  I 
may  say :  Submarine  Telegraphy  is  in  !:s  infancy,  but  it  is  in  the 
aot  of  making  the  =>trido  of  a  full-grown  giant  ;  and  no  problem  can 
to  my  mind  be  more  satisfactorily  demonstrated  than  is  the  practi- 
cability of  readily,  and  almost  without  risk,  laying  tlit»  wire  from 
land  to  land  upon  this  telegraphic  i)latcau  of  the  Atlantic. 

Respectfully,  Ac,  'SI  F.  Mauht. 

Hon.  C.  C.  CiiAKFKK,  lIi>ii=!o  of  llt'pre'^enfative-,  Washiiig'on. 


Appendix. 


229 


III. 


THE  BASIN  OF  THE  ATLANTIC,  AND  THE  TELEGRA- 
PHIC PLATEAU.* 


There  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  Atlantic,  between  Cape  Race  in 
Newfoundland  and  Cape  Clear  in  Ireland,  a  remarkable  steppe, 
which  is  already  known  as  the  telegraphic  platoau.     A  Company  is 
now  engaged  with  the  project  of  a  submarine  telegraph  across  the 
Atlantic.     It  is  proposed  to  carry  the  wires  along  this  plateau  from 
the  eastern  shores  ol  Newfoundland  to  the  western  shores  of  Ire- 
land.    The  great  circle  distance  between  these  two  shore-lines  is 
one  tliousand  six  hundred  miles,  and  the  sea  along  the  route  is  pro- 
bably nowhere  more  than  ten  thousand  feet  deep.     This  Company, 
it  is  understood,  consists  of  men  of  enterprise  and  wealth,  wl  o. 
.Uould  the  inquiries  that  tlioy  are  now  making  prove  satisfy  tovy. 
u  .    jr.  pared  to  undertake  the  establishment  forth  A-ith  of  a  Suliuu- 
rii  e  Tclci^'ruph  across  the  Atlantic. 

It  was  upon  this  plateau  that  Brooke's  sounding  apparatus 
brought  up  its  first  trophies  from  tlio  bottom  of  the  sea.  These  s,.e- 
ciinens  Lieutenant  Bekryman  and  his  officers  judged  to  be  clay  ;  but 
they  took  the  precaution  to  label  them,  carefully  to  preserve  them, 
and,  on  their  return  to  the  United  States,  to  send  them  to  the  pro- 
per'bureau.  They  were  divided:  a  part  was  sent  l.r  examination 
to  Professor  Ehrkn-hkug,  of  Berlin,  and  a  part  to  Professor  Bailev, 
of  West  Point-eminent  microrcopist^s  both.     I  have  not  heard 

_  _.  -  -^.^_         <  ..  ..r  .1.,.  u„.,  "  l,,T  Li"UL  M    1*^-  Maurt. 

*  IToin  the  ••  t  io""-"' "^'^''^'"'i""^  "    —-  -     , 

New  York:  ITarprr  *  Brothers,  1855. 


230 


Appendix. 


I 


from   the  former,   but  the  latter,   in  November,  1853,  thus  re- 
sponded : 

"  I  a;.,  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  the  deep  soundings  you  sent  me 
last  week,  and  I  have  looked  at  them  with  great  interest.  They 
are  exactly  what  I  have  wanted  to  get  hold  of.  The  bottom  of  the 
ocean  at  the  depth  of  more  than  two  miles  I  hardly  hoped  ever  tc 
have  a  chance  of  examining;  yet  thanks  to  Brooke's  contrivance, 
we  have  it  clean  and  free  from  grease,  so  that  it  oan  at  once  be  put 
under  the  microscope.  I  was  greatly  delighted  to  find  that  all  these 
deep  soundings  were  filled  with  microscopic  sheUs;  not  a  particle  of 
sand  or  gravel  exists  in  them.  They  are  chiefly  made  up  of  per- 
fect httle  calcareous  sheUs  {Foraminifera;\  and  contain,  also,  a  small 
number  of  silicious  shells  (Diatornacea;)" 

These  httle  mites  of  shells  seem  to  form  but  a  slender  clue  indeed 
by  which  the  chambers  of  the  deep  are  to  be  threaded,  and  myste- 
ries of  the  ocean  revealed;  yet  the  results  are  suggestive;  in  right 
hands  and  to  right  minds,  they  are  guides  to  both  light  anJ  know- 
ledge.    The  first  notice.'  le  thing  the  microscope  gives  of  these  spe- 
cimens is  that  all  of  them  are  of  the  animal,  not  one  of  the  mineral 
kingdom.     The  ocean  teems  with  life,  we  know.     Of  the  four  ele- 
ments of  the  old  philosophers— fire,  earth,  air,  and  water— perhaps 
the  sea  most  of  all  abounds  with  Uvir^  --ptur-.s.     The  space  occu- 
pied on  the  surface  of  our  planet  by  the  different  families  of  animals 
and  their  remains  are  inversely  as  the  size  of  the  individual.     Tljc 
t^maller  the  animal,  the  greater  the  space  occupied  by  liis  remains. 
Though  not  invariably  the  case,  yot  tliis  rule,  to  a  certain  extent,  is 
true,  and  will,  therefore,  answer  our  present  purposes,  which  m- 
simply  those  of  illustration.     Take  the  elephant  and  his  remains,  or 
a  microscopic  animal  and  his,  and  compare  them.     The  contrast',  a.s 
to  space  orcui>ip(l.  ig  as  atn'L-i'ricr  "°  'i^"*  -<■  'i  -  1        "  __  •  • 

■         •  <■->  '"    ■■■■•■-  ■"    !"L  i.A;.iii   r.i  I    ui    jsiiinii 

Will,  the  dimensions  of  the  whale.      The  grave-yard  that  would 


Appendix. 


231 


hold  the  corallines  is  larger  than  the  grave-yard  that  would  hold 
the  elephants. 

We  notice  another  practical  bearing  in  this  group  of  physical 
facts  that  Brooke's  apparatus  fished  up  from  the  bottom  of  the 
deep  sea.  Bailey,  with  his  microscope,  could  not  detect  a  single 
particle  of  sand  or  gravel  among  tliese  Uttle  mites  of  shells.  They 
were  from  the  great  telegraphic  plateau,  and  the  inference  is  that 
there,  if  anywhere,  tlie  waters  of  the  sea  are  at  rest.  There  was 
not  motion  enough  there  to  abrade  these  very  deUcate  organisms, 
nor  current  enough  to  sweep  them  about  and  mix  up  ^\  ith  them  a 
grain  of  the  Quest  sand,  nor  the  smallest  particle  of  gravel  torn  from 
thj  loose  beds  of  debris  that  here  and  there  strew  the  bottom  of  tlie 
sea.  This  plateau  is  not  too  deep  for  the  wire  to  sink  down  and  rest 
upon,  yet  it  is  not  so  shallow  that  currcuts,  or  icebergs,  or  any 
iibrrding  force  can  derange  the  wire,  after  it  is  or      lodged. 

As  rrofossor  Bailey  remarks,  the  animalcula,  whose  remains 
Brooke's  lead  has  brought  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  deep  sea,  pro- 
bably did  not  live  or  die  there.  They  would  have  had  no  hght 
there,  and  had  tliey  Uved  there,  their  frail  little  textures  would  have 
been  subjected  in  their  growth  to  a  pressure  upon  them  of  a  column 
of  water  twelve  thousand  feet  high,  equal  to  the  weight  of  four 
iiundred  atmospheres.  They  probably  lived  and  died  near  the  sur- 
face, where  they  could  feel  the  genial  influences  of  both  hght  and 
boat,  and  were  buried  in  the  Uchen  caves  below  after  death. 

Brooke's  lead  and  the  microscope,  therefore,  it  would  scorn,  are 
jibout  to  teach  us  to  regard  the  ocean  in  a  new  light.  Its  bosom, 
which  so  teems  with  animal  hfe;  its  face,  upon  which  time  writes 
no  wrinkles— makes  no  impression— are,  it  would  now  seem,  as 
obedient  to  the  great  law  of  change  as  is  any  department  whatever, 
cither  of  the  animal  or  the  vegetable  kingdom.  It  is  now  suggested 
tlia:,  henceforward  we  should  view  the  surface  of  the  sea  as  a  nur- 


iMliWMBigiMiiiMieiii 


232 


Appendix. 


sery  teeming  with  nascent  organisms,  its  depths  as  the  cemetery  for 
'amilies  of  Uving  creatures  that  outnumber  the  sands  on  the  sea- 
shore for  multitude. 

Where  there  is  a  nursery,  hard  by  there  will  be  found  also  a 
grave-yard — such  is  the  condition  of  the  animal  world.  But  it 
never  occurred  to  us  befo'-s  to  consider  the  s.-face  of  the  sea  as  one 
wide  nursery,  ito  every  ripple  a  cradle,  and  its  bottom  one  vast 
burial-^)l6ce. 

^n  those  parts  of  the  sohd  portions  of  the  earth's  crust  which  are 
at  the  bottom  of  the  atmosphere,  various  agents  are  at  work,  hvel- 
hng  both  upward  and  downward.  Heat  and  cold,  raiu  and  sun- 
shine, the  winds  and  the  streams,  all  assisted  by  the  for  es  of  gravi- 
tation, are  unceasingly  wasting  away  the  high  places  on  the  land, 
and  as  perpetually  fiUing  up  the  low. 

But  in  contemplating  the  levelling  agencies  that  are  at  work  upon 
the  sohd  portions  of  the  crust  of  our  planet  which  are  at  the  bottom 
of  the  sea,  one  is  led  at  first  thought  ah-^ost  to  the  conclusion  that 
these  levelling  agents  are  powerless  thert. 

In  the  deep  sea  there  are  no  abrading  processes  at  work ;  neitlier 
fros'a  nor  rains  are  felt  there,  and  the  force  of  gravitation  is  so  para- 
lysed down  there  that  it  cannot  use  half  its  power,  as  on  the  dry 
land,  in  tearing  the  overhanging  rock  from  the  precipice  and  casting 
it  down  into  the  valley  below. 


Appendix. 


2^3 


IV. 


EAKLY  PREDICTIONS  OF  PROFESSOR  MORSE. 


New  York,  Atig'"st  lOth,  1843 

Sir  :  I  take  this  opportunity  of  communicating  to  the  honorable 
Secretary  the  result  of  the  experiments  made  on  the  8th  inst,  with 
the  prepared  wiie  in  one  continuous  hne  of  160  miles.  Professors 
Renwick,  Draper,  Ellet,  and  SchaefFer,  with  my  assistants  Professors 
Fisher  and  Gale,  were  present  by  invitation;  Professors  Silliman, 
Henry,  Torrey,  and  Dr.  Chilton  were  also  invited,  but  were  prevented 
by  official  duties  from  attending. 

In  the  letter  to  the  honorable  Secretary  dated  March  10th,  18-13, 
in  which  I  propose  my  general  plan,  T  have  this  remark,  speaking  of 
the  wire  after  its  insulating  preparation  should  be  completed :  "  Many 
interesting  experiments  bearing  upon  the  general  result  can  then  lie 
tried  bev     the  wire  is  enclosed." 

The  ex  J.  iments  alluded  to  were  tried  on  Tuesday,  and  with  per- 
fect success.  I  had  prepared  a  galvanic  battery  of  300  pairs  in  order 
to  have  a.T^ple  power  at  command,  but,  to  my  great  gratiucation,  I 
found  that  100  pairs  were  sufficient  to  produce  all  the  effects  I  de- 
sired through  the  whole  distance  of  160  miles. 

It  may  be  well  to  observe  that  the  160  miles  of  wire  are  to  be 
divided  into  four  lengths  of  40  miles  each,  forming  a  fourfold  cord 
from  Washington  to  Baltimore.  Two  wires  form  a  circuit;  the 
electricity,  therefore,  in  producing  its  eflects  at  Washington  from 

E-li! ,    .,»o,a  .o  r...^>v^   TlnU ;.«<-..•<->  in  VVaaliinort/^n   Iind  hftf'k    ftfai.l     i,0 

Baltimore,  of  course  travelling  80  miles  to  produce  its  result.     One 


234 


Appendix. 


hundred  and  sixty  miles,  tlierefore,  gives  me  an  actual  distance  of  80 
miles,  double  the  distance  from  Washington  to  Baltimore.  The 
result,  then,  of  my  experiments  on  Tuesday  is,  that  a  battery  of  only 
100  pairs  at  Washington  will  operate  a  telegraph  on  my  plan  80 
miles  distant  with  certainty,  and  without  rijquiring  any  intermediate 
station  I 

Some  careful  experiments  on  the  decomposing  power  at  various 
distances  were  made,  from  which  the  law  of  propulsion  has  been 
deduced,  verifying  the  results  of  Ohm  and  those  which  ^  made  in 
the  summer  of  1842,  and  alluded  to  in  my  letter  to  the  Hon. 
C.  G.  Ferris,  and  published  in  the  Ho-  report  No.  17  of  the  last 
Congress. 

The  practical  inference  from  this  law  is  that  a  telegraphic  communi- 
cation on  the  eleciro-magnetic  plan  may,  unth  certainty,  be  established 
a.ross  the  Atlantic  ocean/  Startling  as  this  may  now  seem,  I  am 
confident  the  time  unU  come  when  this  project  uriU  be  realized. 

The  wire  is  now  in  its  last  process  of  preparation  for  encbsing  in 
tlie  lead  tube,  which  will  be  commenced  ou  Tuesday,  the  15th  inst. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir  -  nth  sincere  respect,  your  most  obedi- 
ent servant, 

SAMUEL  F.  B.  MORSE, 
Superintendent  of  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph. 
To  the  Hon.  John  C.  Spencer, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  U.  States. 


Appendix. 


235 


V. 


USE  OF  THE  TELEGRAPix  IN  CONNEXION  WITH 
LONGITUDE  OPERATIONS. 


At  th  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Association  for 
tlie  Advancement  of  Science,  held  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  August, 
1849,  a  valuable  paper,  embodying  the  results  of  Telegrpphic  obser- 
vations of  Longitude,  was  read  by  Mr.  Sears  C.  Walker,  a  capable 
astronomer,  since  deaeased.  The  investigations  upon  tb^  subject 
were  undertaken  by  Mr.  Walked,  under  the  direction  of  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  Coast  Survey.  The  question  of  determining  longi- 
tudes by  the  use  of  telegraphic  wires,  is  now  invested  with  fresh 
interest.  The  material  portions  of  the  report  of  !  •  "^alker  may, 
therefore,  be  reprodu'^ed  in  -annection  with  this  hi  Lory.  Mr. 
Walker  said : 

"The  first  mention  of  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph,  in  connec- 
tion with  longitude  operations,  i-s  far  as  I  know,  was  made,  in 
1837,  by  M.  Arago  to  Dr.  Morse. 

"  The  first  practical  application  of  the  method  was  by  Capt.WL-.es, 
in  1844,  between  Washington  and  Baltimore.  Two  chronometers, 
previously  rated  by  astronomical  observations  in  the  vicinity,  were 
brought  to  the  two  telegraph  ofl&ces,  and  were  compared  together 
through  the  medium  of  the  ear,  without  coincidence  of  beats.  This 
process  is  accurate  enough  for  geographical  or  nautical  purposes :  but 
its  precision  stops  short  of  the  mark  where  the   requirements  of 


when  placed  side  by  side,  cannot  be  compared  together,  by  the  human 


236 


Appendix. 


ear,  with  sufficient  precision  for  geodetical  purposes.  The  subse- 
quent experience  of  the  Coast  Survey  has  shown,  that  where  several 
astronomers  make  independent  comparisons  of  clocks,  in  tl  is  man- 
ner, two  seconds  of  an  arc,  or  twelve  hundredths  of  a  second  of  time, 
is  ati  average  discrepancy  between  their  results. 

"  The  subject  of  telegraph  operations  for  longitude  had  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  Superintendent  of  the  Coast  Survey  previous  to 
the  experiment  of  Capt.  Wilkes ;  but  the  orders  received  by  me  for 
this  purpose  bear  date  November  24,  1845.  In  1846,  the  very  I'rst 
season  in  which  two  astronomical  stations  of  the  Survey  were 
brouglit  in  connection  by  the  Morse  telegraph  lines,  the  work  of 
connecting  them  together  in  longitude  was  commenced  in  earnest  by 
the  superintendent  of  the  Coast  Survey.  The  cooperation  of  the 
Nationai  Observatory,  as  one  of  the  stations,  was  freely  tendered  by  its 
Superintendent,  Lieut.  Maury,  U.  S.  N.,  and  accepted  by  Prof.  Bache. 

"  Another  station  was  established  ut  Philadelphia,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Prof.  Kendall,  and  still  another  at  Jersey  City  umler 
Prof.  Loorais. 

"Owing  to  the  imperfect  insulation  of  the  lines,  the  connection  of 
Jersey  City  with  Washington  failed  tliat  year ;  but  the  Washington 
and  Philadelphia  stations  were  connected  togoiher  astronomically  on 
the  10th  and  2'2d  of  October.  The  method  (1  comparison  by  cuiiici- 
deuce  of  beats  of  solar  and  sidereal  timekeepers,  was  not  introduced 
this  year;  but  the  e<)uivak'ut  one  was  employed,  viz.,  the  exchange 
o*  star-signals.  These  are  the  dates  of  instants  of  the  pas.sage  of  a 
stAr  over  the  wires  of  the  eye-piece  of  the  transit  instrument,  sig- 
nalized by  ijipping  on  t)ie  telegraph  key  at  one  station,  and  record- 
ing it  on  the  Morse  register  at  both. 

"In  184n,  we  connected  together  in  longitude  the  Wa,shingfon 
niid  i'liiiiiiicijiiiiu  slaiiuii:^.      in    io4i,  iiic*   |nugi  .iiiiiiif  i<;il  tiiiiiiii^iicti 

in  iy4G,  by  the  imperfection  of  the  lines,  was  re-Jiuued  and  com- 


Appendix. 


237 


pleted,  and  Washington,  Philadelphia,  and  Jersey  City  vere  con- 
nected together.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1847,  the  method  of  coinci- 
dence of  bfjats,  used  so  successfully  by  R.  T.  Paine,  Fsq.,  in  the  chro- 
nometric  operations  for  longitide  in  Massachussets,  and  by  Strave 
and  Airy  in  their  chronometric  enterprises,  was  applied  to  the  tele- 
graphic comparisons  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Jersey  City  clocks. 
This  method  of  coincidences  was  used  in  combination  with  exchangi's 
of  star-signals  in  the  telegraphic  operations  of  ihe  Coast  Survey  in 
1848,  when  the  Cambridge  Observatory,  under  Prof.  Bond,  and  the 
Stuyvcsant  Station  in  New  York,  were  connected  together  by  the 
Coast  Survey. 

"  In  October,  1848,  Cincinnati  was  connected  with  Philadelphia. 
The  labors  of  the  year  1848  comprise  some  1,800  observed  transits 
of  stars,  800  comparisons  of  chronometers  by  coincidences  of  beats 
taken  at  the  stotions,  5,000  transits  over  wires,  for  determining  the 
personal  equations  of  the  officers  of  the  Survey,  many  thousand 
exchanges  of  personal  clock  signals,  and  600  star-transit  signals. 

"  Of  the  different  kinds  of  registers  I  prefer  the  sheet  of  Mr.  Sax- 
ton.  One  sheet  filled  on  both  sides,  or  two  pages,  will  contain  an 
ordinary  night's  work.  A  year's  work  will  make  a  book  of  some 
three  hundred  pages,  on  the  margin  of  which  may  be  entered  the 
ordinary  remarks  for  an  observing-br>uk,  relative  to  the  state  of  the 
level  and  meteorological  instrument.^,  names  of  stnrs  observed,  and 
iustruraentid  devittti(ms.  If  fjliod  up,  or  buuiid  and  put  away 
for  a  century,  the  reduction  of  the  work  will  thm  be  as  ea.«y  as  at 
first.  In  fact,  we  may,  with  the  metallic  cylinder,  electrotype  tlie 
jilatp;  or,  using  copper,  we  tiiay  print  from  it  witlxMi^ 

"  W[\cn  we  reflect  that  the  probable  error  of  oii-  tran«i»  over  on.« 
wire  is  only  the  sixteenth  of  a  second,  and  that  with  five  win-^  it 
is  only  a  thirty-s  xt>i  part,  or  tliree  humhedtli  ol  a  second,  it  is  iiiaiii- 
fest  tliat  one  uUy,  ot  five  wires,  is  ample  for  all  urdinary  work.     In 


238 


Appendix. 


fact,  one  wire  is  sufficient  for  most  of  the  purposes  of  astronomy,  j 
have  been  led,  on  consideration  of  all  the  facts  known  from  the  expe- 
rience of  the  Coast  Survey,  to  make  the  following  remark  relative 
to  the  precision  of  our  work,  after  proper  adjustment  of  the  transit 
instrument,  or  measurement  of  its  deviations  from  a  normal  state  : — 
The  printed  transit  of  a  fundamental  star  over  any  one  wire  of  Wur- 
deman's  diaphragm,  and  that  of  a  star,  planet,  or  comet,  whose  place 
is  sought,  over  another  wire, — both  reduced  to  the  centre,  on  the  suppo- 
sition of  uniformity  of  interval,— give  the  place  of  the  object  sought  with 
a  precision  not  much  below  that  on  which  rest  the  present  elements  of  aU 
the  bodies  in  the  solar  system." 


Appendix. 


239 


VI. 


VELOCITY  OF  THE  GALVANIC  CURRENT. 

In  the  year  1850,  the  American  Association  received  a  paper 
embodying  the  results  of  experiments  on  the  velocity  ol"  the  Galvanic 
Current  in  Telegraph  wires.  These  experiments  were  made  under 
the  direction  of  Prof.  A.  D.  Bache,  Superintendent  of  the  Coast  Sur- 
vey ;  and  a  very  excellent  summary  of  them  was  prepared  and  laid 
before  the  American  Association,  by  Dr.  B.  A.  Gould,  Jr.,  from 
whose  report  we  copy : — 

The  ingenious  experimenL*  of  Prof.  Wheatstone,  in  1834,  tended 
to  conhrm  the  general  opinion  previously  existing,  that  the  velocity 
with  which  the  electricity  was  transmitted  by  a  metallic  conductor 
was  so  enormous — so  immense,  indeed,  compared  with  all  other 
ve'ocities  known  to  us,  excepting  that  of  hght — as  to  warrant  the 
assumption  of  our  incapacity  to  determine  it.  On  this  account, 
Wheatstone's  elegant  experiment  obtamed  for  its  autlior  the  more 
distinction,  and  for  his  results  the  greater  confidence.  One  of  iht^se 
results,  as  aiipounced  by  liini,  was,  tliat  the  velocity  of  electricity 
through  the  topper  'vir«\s  used,  was  indeed  appreciable, — but  ex- 
ceeded tiiat  of  Ught  through  the  i)UinetArj  space,!  that  it  could  not 
be  les.H  than  2H8,0()0  miles  in  a  aecoiid,  wliile  light  traverses  about 
ISf),000  during  the  same  time. 

Tiie  telegraphic  observations,  instituted  under  the  immediate 
direction  uf  Mr.  Walker,  by  tlie  U.  S.  Coast  Survey,  for  determin- 
lUL'  lli(!  ilifTeretiocs  ot    lu^iyitude  between    reiiiot'.'   HfjifinT'.j   ■!!    *]•.!' 


♦  Tbir  TruM  ,  l-*i.  j>.  tm. 


t  Phil.  Trans..  iSfti,  p.  B91. 


240 


Appendix. 


i 


United  States,  led  to  a  very  unexpected  result, — viz. :  that  to  obtain 
the  greatest  harmony  among  the  several  observations,  a  smrll  correc- 
tion must  be  introduced,  depending  on  the  relative  distances  between 
the  telegraphic  stations.  No  explanation  of  this  phenomenon  offer- 
ed itself,  excepting  the  hypothesis  suggested*  by  Walker,  and  com- 
municated by  Prof.  Bache  to  the  Am.  Phil.  Society  in  March,  1849, 
that  the  time  elapsing  during  the  passage  of  the  signals  between 
remote  stations  was  much  more  considerable,  and  the  velocity,  con- 
sequently 'cSS  than  had  been  before  imagined. 

Since  >Valker's  results  were  first  published,  the  subject  has 
engaged  the  attention  of  numerous  astronomers  and  physicists  in 
Europe  and  America,  among  whom  Mitchel,  Fizeau,  and  Steinheil 
are  conspicuous.  The  subject  belongs  in  itself  far  more  properly  to 
the  domain  of  physics  than  to  astronomy,  but  its  special  bearing 
upon  the  problem  of  longitude,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  has 
fon.'cd  itself  upon  the  consideration  of  astronomers,  have  made  it 
nicumbent  ii[)i)n  them  to  enter  into  a  full  disi:ussion  of  the  subject 

While  in  Washington  in  the  month  of  February  last.,  I  accepted 
with  plc'isure  an  invitation  from  Mr.  Walker  to  take  part  in  »n  ex- 
periment on  a  very  large  scale,  for  which  he  had  been  long  engnged 
in  making  preparation  in  behalf  of  the  Coast  Survey,  and  from  which 
he  anticipated  results  so  ample  as  to  put  an  end  to  the  controversy. 
Tiie  Seaton  St^ation  of  the  Survey  in  ^  ishingtidi,  north  of  tlie 
Capitol,  and  the  city  of  St.  Loui.s,  were  i;o  (M'ted  on  the  4th  Febru- 
ary, in  one  colossal  galvanic  ciiciiit,  and  but  the  damage  occa- 
sioiicd  by  a  storm  on  tlie  siitic  day,  the  i  ircuit  would  havt>  extended 
even  a  )ubuque,  in  tJie  Territory  oi  Iowa,  a  distance  of  some  15()0 
milc^. 

On  the  night  of  Oct.  31,  1810,  a  series  of  experiments  was  made 


•  Proo.  Am.  riill  Soc,  v.  p.  T«.    A«tr.  Nschr.,  xxix.  64. 


Appendix. 


241 


for  the  express  purpose  of  determining  the  time  needed  for  the 
transmission  of  signals.  The  results  are  pubhshed  in  No.  7  of  the 
Asir.  Joum.,  with  a  detailed  account  of  the  methods  which  he  used, 
and  an  analytical  investigation  of  the  effects  of  those  circumstances 
which  could  interfere  with  the  accuracy  of  his  results.  The  mea- 
surements of  all  the  registers  gave  him  fbr  the  velocity  on  that 
night  16,000  miles  a  second,— differing  less  than  1900  miles  from  his 
previous  result,  and  tending  in  general  to  confirm  it.  The  final 
result  at  which  he  arrived  was  the  general  theoren, — that  a  signal 
given  by  breaking  or  closing  the  galvanic  circuit  at  any  point,  was 
observed  at  other  points  on  the  circuit  after  intervals  proportionate 
to  their  distance  from  the  place  where  the  signal  was  made, — and 
corresponding  to  a  velocity  of  from  16,000  to  19,000  miles. 

Prof  Mitchel,  of  the  Cincinnati  Observatory,  dissents  from  the 
view  taken  by  Ts^r.  Walker,  and  attributes  tlie  rosults  obtained  by 
him  to  the  effect  of  various  sources  of  error  and  uncertainty  in  the 
methods  which  Walker  has  used.  He  devised  a  special  and  very 
curious  apparatus  for  investigating  the  question, — and  with  the 
inrenuity  and  n-echanical  skill  for  which  he  is  so  eminent,  con- 
structed it  at  the  Cincinnati  Observatory,  and  ma  e  a  largo  series  of 
interesting  experiments  on  the  Telegraph  hne  between  Cincinnati 
ftnd  Pittsburgh.  Prof.  M.'s  view  of  the  matter  is,  that  after  a  sig- 
nal is  given  by  closing  or  breaking  the  galvanic  circuit,  an  appre- 
ciable time  elapses  before  the  signal  is  communicated  to  any  other 
station,  and  that  it  is  then  received  by  all  aimu'iUmeously.  He  con- 
sidci  s  this  in  connection  with  the  details  of  his  experiment  to  indi- 
cate that  two  fluids  cu-culato  m  onposite  directions  between  the 
[)t>lt!a  of  a  battery,  but  that  neither  makes  its  influence  perceptible 
until  co.nplete  cii'  illation  of  each  has  taken  place  from  pole  to  pole. 
The  velocity  of  tiu.T  circulation  Prol.  Mitchel  inters  to  be  about 
30,000  miles  a  second. 

11 


'SiB 


242 


Appendix. 


Were  the  arrangement  of  the  Telegraph  such  now  as  it  was  at 
firSt,  one  source  of  uncertainty  would  perhaps  have  been  avoided  in 
the  experiments ;  but  the  opportunity  of  solving  tliis  latter  problem 
would  have  been  lost  Until  telegrapuers  availed  themselves  of  the 
discovery  of  Steinheil,  that  no  control  over  the  circuit  was  lost 
when  one  half  of  it  was  formed  by  the  earth,  each  Telegraph  line 
was  double — consisting  of  one  wire  to  the  terminus  and  another 
back.  But  in  all  the  lines  in  use  in  this  country,  the  earth  forms 
one  half  of  the  circuit.  Are  we  to  consider,  when  the  two  distant 
extremities  of  a  line  of  wire  communicate  with  the  earth  at  a  dis- 
tance of  many  hundred  miles  from  one  another,  that  there  is  a 
special  line  of  tension  through  the  earth  from  one  extremity  to  the 
other  ?  and  that  a  signal  is  communicated  from  terminus  to  termi- 
nus through  the  ground,  m  the  same  manner  as  it  is  through 
a  wire?  or  may  we  consider  tlie  earth  as  a  huge  receptacle,  to  speak 
metaphorically,  capable  of  receiving  or  imparting  any  amount  of 
electricity  at  any  time  ?  The  former  opinion  is  held  by  my  friend 
Mr.  Walker. 

But  does  it  not  seem  improbable  that  the  slight  activity  of  a 
galvanic  battery,  traversing  a  circuit  of  1000  miles  of  wire,  should 
be  sufficient  to  establish  a  s})ec%cd  line  of  electric  tension  extending 
through  the  earth  in  a  rord  or  parallel  wiJi  the  surface  for  750 
niilw  ?  For  my  own  part,  when  I  remember  not  only  the  grand 
phenomena  of  tcrrwtrial  magnetism,  but  the  immense  galvanic 
force  wliicli  imret  be  exerted  by  the  mutual  influence  of  the  huge 
masses  of  metal  in  the  b  )Wola  of  the  earth, — when  I  consider  the 
miirhty  electiioal  activity  developed  in  the  great  processes  of  nature, 
— T  will  confoas  that  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that  one 


1: r  _i. 


:.,  «i,« 


A   Kr»fMfoori    ixMrn 


remote  st.iiions  can  be  established  athwart  all  tliese  colossal  forces 
by  the  actio!    >f  a  puny  Telegraph  battery. 


Appendix. 


243 


VII. 

TABLE  OF  SUBMARINE  CABLES. 

Boute.  Bate.  Miles. 

Dover  aiid  Calais, 1850  24 

Dover  and  Ostend, 1852  76 

Holyhead  and  Hpwth, 1852  65 

England  and  Holland, 1853  115 

Portpatrick  and  Donaghadee  (two  Cables),      .  1853  26 

Italy  and  Corsica, 185d  65 

Corsica  and  Sardinia, 1854  10 

Denmark— Great  Belt, 1854  15 

Denmark— Little  Belt, 1854  5 

Denmark— Soun'I, ''.855  12 

Scotland— Frith  of  Forth, 1856  4 

Black  Sea, 1855  400 

Soland,  Isle  of  Wight, 1855  3 

Straits  of  Messina, 1856  6 

Qulfof  St  Lawrence, 1856  74 

Straita  of  Northumberland, 1856  10^ 

Bosphorus, 1856  1 

Gut  of  Canso,  Nova  Scotia, 1856  2 

St  Petersburg  to  Cronstadt, 1856  10 

Atlantic  Cable-  Yalentia  Bay  to  Trinity  Bay,  1858  1950 


2,862i 


244 


Appendix. 


VIII. 


THE  MORSE  TELEGRAPHIC  ALPHABET. 


Letters. 

Figure*  and  Punotustion 

A  -  — 

0  -  - 

1 

B 

P 

2 

0 

Q 

3 

D 

R 

4 

E  - 

S  --- 

5 

F   -      - 

T  — 

6 

a 

U 

7 

H 

V 

8 

I    -- 

w- 

9 

J 

X 

0  

K 

Y  --    -- 

(.) 

L  

Z 

(?) 

M 

&  -    — 

(I) 

N  — 

&c 

.- 

Appendix. 


H5 


IX. 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  TIDINGS  OP  SUCCESS  IN  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 


The  tidings  of  the  mechanical  success  of  the  enterprise,  first  received 
in  New  York  on  the  5th  of  August,  gave  the  first  impulse  to  a  uni- 
versal jubUee.  That  the  Cable  had  been  safely  laid,  was  a  fact  which 
justified  a  warm  expression  of  popular  feeUng.  The  successful  laying 
of  an  Oceanic  Telegraph  was  justly  regarded  by  the  American  peo- 
ple as  an  achievement  which  carried  rich  compensation  for  previous 
triald  and  dangers.  For  the  space  of  a  w^  ek,  therefore,  whUe  the 
question  of  overcoming  the  scientific  difficulties  of  transmission  of 
the  electric  current  yet  ren--  ned  unsettled,  the  country  gave  itself 
up  to  a  general  jubilation. 

The  announcement  of  the  landing  of  the  Cable  at  Trinity  Bay 
reached  the  quiet  town  of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  while  the  Alumni 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  that  place  were  celebrating  their  semi- 
centennial anniversary  by  a  dinner.  One  thousand  persons  were 
present,  all  of  whom  rose  to  their  feet,  and  gave  vent  to  .heir  excited 
feeUngs  by  continued  and  enthusiastic  cheers.  When  quiet  was 
restored,  the  Alumni  sang  the  Doxology  to  the  tune  of  "  Old  Hun- 
dred ;  "  brief  addresses,  referring  to  the  great  event  as  a  new  Unk  in 
the  influences  of  Christianity,  were  deUvered  by  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Adams,  D.D.,  of  New  Turk,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawes  of  Hartford,  and 
others;  a  prayer  was  offered,  and  the  dinner  was  then  resumed 


xiiu    iic  *v*3  Vv'iio 


.,,-,__,,:.,. -.J   -;*  \xT««u,iM£,f/irj  with  unboundod  Gntliiisi- 


asm. 


Labor  was  entirely  suspended  in  the  Government  Depart- 


246 


Appendix. 


ments,  and  the  tidings  spread  over  the  city  with  extraordinary 
rapidity.  The  President  was  not  in  town,  having  retired,  some 
days  previously,  to  Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  at  which  place  the  an- 
nouncement was  made  to  him. 

At  Albany,  New  York,  the  proceedings  of  the  Courts,  of  the 
Board  of  Trade,  and  of  the  Raiboad  Companies,  were  instantly  ar- 
rested, and  intense  er  ^''tement  prevailed.  In  that  city,  and  at  Utica, 
Syracuse,  Rochester,  Buffalo,  and  other  cxt  j  and  towns  in  the  State 
cf  New  York,  pubUc  and  private  buildings  were  illuminated,  and 
enthusiasm  found  veui  in  various  demonstrations. 

In  the  city  of  New  York,  the  first  new  ^  was  received  with  some 
degree  of  caution.  Hence  the  celebration  of  the  event  on  the  night 
of  the  5th  of  August  was  not  equally  enthusiastic  with  the  demon- 
strations elsewhere.  The  city  reserved  itself  for  a  future  occasion. 
On  the  reception  of  the  Queen's  Message,  its  exuberance  knew  no 

bounds. 

At  Fishkill,  New  York,  an  impromptu  celebration  took  place,  at 

which  speeches  were  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beechek, 

and  others.     In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  Mr  Beecheb  said : — 


im 


"  Here  I  mark  one  thing,  viz. :  That  while  this  wire,  with  those 
other  co-related  telegraphs  on  either  side,  will,  in  the  first  instance, 
work  towards  monopoly,  in  the  second  and  main  instance  they  will 
work  towards  diffusion  and  the  common  weal ;  for  although  com- 
merce and  poUtics,  and  the  merchant  class  and  the  political  class  will 
in  the  first  instance  be  the  users,  and  so  be  benefited  first  by  it,  yet, 
in  the  main,  the  people  will  be  the  ones  who  will  reap  the  benefit, 
for  whatever  thing  brings  now  whole  communities  into  circum- 
stances of  greater  prosperity  must  needs,  iu  the  spirit  and  temper  of 
our  time,  be  distributive.  If  il  vvuie  post-luic  fur  KiiOvvic-age  to  no 
confined  to  the  minds  of  the  many,  if  it  were  possible  for  mono- 


Appendi 


247 


polista  to  lock  up  the  two  ends  of  this  wire,  holding,  on  either  side, 
the  power  of  its  intelligence,  it  might  be  disastrous  to  governments 
and  to  the  people.  But  now  it  has  a  tendency  to  make  knowledge 
co-extensive  with  the  globe  instantaneously." 

lUuminations  took  place  in  Brooklyn,  the  city  of  Captain  Hud- 
son's residence.  Among  the  transparencies  was  one  hung  over  the 
Mechanics-  Bank,  which  bore  the  words  of  a  telegraphic  dispatch 
forwarded  by  the  commander  of  the  Nio^ara  to  his  family-       ^. : 

"  TRimTY  Bat,  Aug.  5,  1858. 
"God  has  been  with  us.     The  Telegraph  Cable  is  laid  without 
accident,  and  to  Him  be  aU  the  glory.    We  are  all  well. 


"  Yours  affectionately, 


Tm.  L.  Hudson." 


SimUar  demonstrations  occurred  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  August  at 
the  South  and  West.  The  citit.  of  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans 
were  especiaUy  jubilant.  In  the  city  of  Boston,  salutes  were  fired, 
illuminations  took  place,  and  bonfires  were  lighted. 

The  reception  of  the  Qui^en's  Message  on  the  16th  and  17th  of 
August,  however,  produced  the  most  remarkable  effect.     Celebra- 
tions which  had  been  promised,  but  were  postponed  until  the  cer^ 
tainty  of  success  became  assured,  took  place  under  circumstances  of 
unusual  impressiveness.     That  which  occurred  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  August  1 . ,  was  in  many  respects 
the  most  remarkable  popular  demonstration  that  has  occurred  foi 
many  years.     Without  preparation,  and  without  the  settlement  of  a 
programme,  the  city  suddenly  exult.  1     It  was  a  momentary  im- 
nnlse.  ended  as  speedily  as  it  began,  and,  being  a  short-lived  excite- 
ment, brought  no  reaction  with  it.     Two  thousand  workmen  irom 


sss^ 


248 


Appendix. 


■ ' 


il 


li       I 


the  Central  Park  appeared  in  Broadway  at  noon,  marching  in  orderly 
procession,  bringing  with  them  their  implements  of  labor  which  they 
had  ceased  using  for  a  day.     From  the  City  Hall,  the  hotels  and 
oiBces,  flags  flc-^ted.  Banners  were  displayed  in  the  leading  thorough- 
fares, as  night  drew  on ;  and  at  dusk  the  City  Hall,  the  Astor  House, 
the  newspaper  estabUshments,  stores  and  dwelhngs  in  the  lower 
part  of  tlie  city  blazed  witli  the  Ught  of  a  spontaneous  illumination. 
Unfortunately  a  display  of  finepyn.iechny  which  took  place  in  front 
of  the  City  Hall,  resulted  in  a  disaster  to  that  fine  edifice;  the  un- 
consumed  remains  of  the  fireworks  igniting  the  roof  of  the  Hall  and 
producing  a  partial  destruction  of  the  upper  floor.     The  celebration 
was  marked  by  the  burning  of  a  City  liaU,  and  the  two  events 
became  'lif  torical  together. 

Among  the  devices  displayed  upon  transparencies  during  the 
illumination,  the  foUowing  expressed  the  popular  feehng  in  a  signi- 
ficant manr  er : — 

"Victoria.  Ah  hail  to  the  Inventive  Genius  and  Indefatigable 
Enterprise  of  John  and  Jonathan,  that  has  succeew^d  in  consum- 
mating the  Mightiest  Work  of  the  Age;  may  the  Cord  that  binds 
them  in  the  bonds  of  International  Friendship  never  be  severed,  and 
the  Field  ot  its  Usefukess  extend  to  every  part  of  the  EartJ 

"let  nations  shout,  'midst  cannons'  roar. 
Proclaim  the  event  from  shore  to  shore." 

"  The  old  Cyrus  and  the  new— the  first  conquered  the  land  for 
himself,  the  second  the  ocean  for  the  world." 

"Lightning  Caught  and  Tamed  by  Franklin.  Taught  to . Read 
and  Write  and  go  on  errands  by  Morse.  Started  in  the  Foreign 
Trade  by  Field,  Cooper  &  Co.,  with  Johnny  Bull  and  Brother 
Jonathan  as  Special  Partners." 


Appendix. 


249 


In  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  on  the  succeeding  evening,  a  jubilee 
recei>tion  was  given  to  Captain  Hudson.  In  response  to  an  address 
of  vfelcome  from  ex-Mayor  Hall,  Captain  Hudson  made  the  follow- 
ing pithy  little  speech : — 

"Mr.  Mayor:  If  I  were  not  a  sailor  '  s^  ■"  stay  back  and  nrt 
open  my  mouth  to  reply.  But  I  am  surprised  ...  what  I  see  before 
me;  for  I  have  done  nothing  to  deserve  this — it  is  entire'y  -lade- 
served.  I  have  done  nothing  m-  e  than  "•  r'uty — nothiuf,  thaL 
calls  for  anything  of  this  kind.  We  liMve  been  engaged  in  a  work 
that  will  make  a  sensation  over  the  wV  '.e  world.  It  ushers  in  a  new 
era  in  the  commercial  community.  Inrough  its  means  we  shall  be 
able  *  carry  the  gospel  to  all  parts  of  the  earth.  We  have  been 
simple  ^struments  in  Higher  Hands  to  bring  about  the  accomplish- 
L  ant  of  this  enterprise.  There  is  <  )ne  higher  than  us,  and  to  Him 
should  be  given  all  the  praise.  I  hardly  know  how  to  speak.  But 
you  would  not  expect  much  f  *m  a  sailoi .  and  therefore  you  will 
noi  be  disappointed." 

The  jubilee  was  general  throughout  the  country,  after  the  recep- 
tion of  the  Message  of  Her  Majesty ;  so  general,  indeed,  were  the 
demonstrations  of  unbounded  joy,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  exag- 
gerate any  ac-  ^nt  of  the  rejoicings.  The  jubilee  of  a  Nation  is  a 
rare  event,  ana  ^'stifies  a  p    sing  notice  in  this  record. 

At  Belfast,  Mair  e.  the  c  lebration  was  ver^  spirited.  H.  0.  Alden, 
Esq.,  Vice-Preside)  t  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  and  a 
stockholder  iu  tb'>  Atlantic  Company,  caused  the  Queen's  Message 
to  be  generaUy  t  .•  :u kted  among  the  citizens. 

At  Detroit,  Micb^^an.  the  display  of  enthusiasm  was  totally  unpre- 
cedented. The  demonstrations  commenced  by  the  firing  of  one 
hundred  guns  at  sunset;    fire-bells  rang  merry  peals,  rockeU.  were 

11* 


250 


Appendix. 


fired,  bonfires  lighted  in  tlio  crowded  si:  eeta,  the  thoroughfares  gaily 
decoratod  with  streamers  and  appropriate  transparencies.  The  pub- 
lic buildings  and  p.ivate  dwellings  were  illuminated.  An  imposing 
torch-light  procession,  headed  by  the  Mayor  of  the  city  and  officers, 
marched  through  the  principal  streets  to  the  Campus  Martins,  Avhere 
addresses  were  delivereu,  and  expressive  resolutions  passed. 

The  city  of  Cincinnp^i,  Ohio,  was  brilliantly  illuminated  in  honor 
of  the  Ocean  Telegraph.  At  the  corner  of  every  street  barrels  of 
tar  were  buriiing,  donated  for  the  pr.rpose  by  the  Gas  Company.  The 
bells  of  Gil  lati,  Covington,  and  Newport  were  rung,  and  100 
guns  were  1-     u. 

At  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl'  ia,  the  celebration  was  a  brilliant  afTair. 
At  li)ur  o'clock,  p.m.,  r.ll  business  was  suspended,  all  the  bells  in  the 
city  were  i-ung,  and  a  salute  of  100  guns  fired.  In  the  evening 
there  'vas  u  torchlight  procession  by  the  civic  societies,  and  a  gene- 
ral illumination  of  public  and  private  liouses.  On  die  rivers  there 
was  an  illuminated  regatta  by  all  the  boat  clubs. 

The  reception  of  the  Q'leen'a  and  President's  Messr.gcs  was  hailed 
nt  St.  Louis  witli  <lolight.  The  Messages  were  read  on  'Change,  and 
elicited  hearty  acclamations.  Congratulatory  remarks  were  made 
by  seveial  gentlemen.  A  meeting  was  convened  i  ler  the  direc- 
tion of  the  President  of  the  Chamber  of  Conunerce,  .nd  the  follow- 
ing resolution  unanimously  adopted: — 

Resolved,  By  thj  Chamber  of  Commerce,  that  St.  Louis  will  inite 
with  the  countiy  in  the  celebratiuii  of  this  great  iulc'-.i-'ii  nul  enter- 
prise. 


Appendix. 


25 » 


X. 


MR.  BERDAN  AS  THE  INVENTOR  OF  THE  NEW  PAY- 
ING-OUT MACHINE. 


[The  name  of  Mr.  Hiram  Berdan,  of  New  York,  having  been 
mentioned  in  the  body  of  this  work,  in  connexion  with  the  inven- 
tion of  the  Paying-out  Machine,  which  was  successfully  employed 
in  layirg  the  Atlantic  Cable  in  the  Suninior  of  1858,  we  deem  it 
proper  to  produce  certain  proofs,  establishing  the  claims  of  thi.t 
gentleman  as  the  original  inventor  of  that  beautiful  apparatus :] 

Soon  after  the  failure  of  the  Telegraphic  Expedition  of  1857,  and 
as  soon  as  the  causes  of  such  failure  could  be  satisfactorily  ascer- 
tained, Mr.  H.  Berdan,  of  thij  city,  set  himself  to  the  task  of  inves- 
t'^'atmg  the  subject  and  devising  a  paying-out  apparatus  which 
would  supply  the  defects  of  that  already  used,  and  in  hia  judgment, 
successfully  lay  the  Cable  across  the  Atlantic. 

About  the  IsL  of  January  of  the  present  year,  Mr.  Berdan  had 
completed  his  design  and  bail  a  working  luodcl  constructad  on  such 
a  scale  oa  to  show  clearly  the  full  operation  of  all  the  diflercnt  parts 
of  the  appariiius.  Mr.  Field's  attention  had  been  called  to  Mr. 
Berdan's  .avention,  and  expressing  his  anxious  desire  that  Mr. 
Everett  should  examine  the  apparatus,  a  day  'vas  a)  mtcil  lur 
him  to  do  so,  which  wan  the  Monday  previous  to  tlie  sailing  of  the 
Persia,  wliich  took  Mr.  Fiki.p  iukI  Mr.  Everett  to  Liverpool  in 
.laiuiary  last.  Mr.  Field,  Mr.  Everett,  Peter  Cooi-er,  Capt. 
liupMON,  unti  inuiiy  oii  -t  gi'uiicmiMi,  witc  pn'!'«'iil  wiiiii  Mr.  Ev.-. 
RETT  made  hia  first  visit  to,  and  examination  of,  Mr.  Bkrdan's  model. 


252 


Appendix. 


When  Mr.  Everett  first  examined  the  model  and  noticed  that 
the  tension  on  the  Cable  was  to  be  tested  by  a  counter  weight,  he 
remarked  with  reference  to  it,  "  Oh,  that  won't  do,  a  counter  weight 
cannot  be  used  on  board  ship,  the  momtatum  is  too  great.  "We 
have  thought  of  that  and  abandoned  it." 

To  which  Mr.  Berdan  replied,  that  he  doubted  if  Mr.  Everett 
yet  understood  the  operation  of  the  machine  and  its  eflfect  upon  the 
Cable  to  give  elasticity  to  it ;  that  there  was  no  serious  difficulty  in 
placing  the  counter  weights  on   board  ship.     Mr.  Berdan  then 
operated  the  model,  showing  the  effect  of  the  counter  weights  and 
the  various  parts  of  the  machinery  so  satisfactorily  that  Mr.  Everett 
appeared  to  change  his  mind  at  once,  and  observed,  "  I  came  here 
with  nr   expectations  of  seeing  any  thing  new.     Wo  have  had  a 
thousand  suggestions  from  various  sources,  but  this  is  new  and 
interesting,  and  I  am  now  satisfied  tliat  we  must  adopt  a  compen- 
sating movement."     Mr.  Everett  then  remarked  that  he  had  no 
plan  of  his  own  as  yet,  was  wedded  to  no  system,  and  was  deter- 
mined to  seek  for  the  best,  and  use  it ;  that  he  was  much  pleased 
•with  Mr.  Berdan's  plan ;  that  he  wished  Mr.  B.  would  let  him  t&i.e 
tlie  model  with  liim  that  he  might  study  it  on  his  way  out  to  Lon- 
don.    Mr.  Beroan  consented,  and  thj  model  was  .acoordingly  boxed 
and  sent  to  Mr.  Everett's  state-room,  on  board  tluf  Persia,  and  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Field  and  Evkrktt  to  London.     The  following  is  a 
copy  .  f  a  letter  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  moi'  1  by  the 
Atlantic  Telegraph  Company : 


"Atlantic  TELEORApn  Company, 
"  22  Old  Boi.d  street,  London, 
"Enoinkerj}'  Department,  March  Ath,  18,58. 


^ *    .1 ^;  _ 


>tu-giapii  X  (jiii[iiiiiy,  ijomiuii : 
"  Mt  Dear  Sir,— I  have  read  the  vory  interesting  communica- 


Appendix. 


253 


tion  commuaicated  by  Mr.  Berdan,  of  New  York,  addressed  to 
yourself,  and  have  also  examined  the  model  of  his  apparatus  which 
you  brought  from  America.  I  must  say  that  he  deserves  our  very 
best  thanks  for  the  elaborate  attention  he  has  devoted  to  the  subject 
which  has  resulted  in  the  design  of  a  paying-out  machine,  embody- 
ing many  of  the  conditions  requisite  for  success. 

"  The  most  important  fe.-.ture  of  his  plan  is  the  arrangement  to 
compensate  for  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  and  this  you  are  aware  has 
engaged  our  attention  for  some  time." 


On  the  25th  of  January  last,  Mr.  Berdan  forwarded  to  Mr.  Field 
drawings  of  his  paying-out  apparatus,  accompanied  by  a  letter  giving 
his  views  generally,  and  full  explanations  of  his  machine  in  par- 
ticular. 

This  communication  from  Mr.  Berdan  to  Mr.  Field  was  laid 
before  Mr.  Bright,  the  Engineer-in-chief  of  the  Company,  who 
wrote  to  Mr.  Field  in  reply,  of  which  tho  followi-.g  I3  an  extract: 

"The  Atlantic  Telegraph  Company  Limited, 

"  22  Old  Bond  street, 
"London,  E.  C,  January  19<A,  LS58. 

"  Sin, — I  have  received,  by  the  hands  of  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Esq., 
one  of  ti.e  Directors  of  this  Company,  your  very  beautiful  and 
elaborate  model  of  a  paying-out  machine  for  depositing  tli.>  Atlantic 
Telegraph  Cable  in  the  Ocean. 

"  I  beg  (o  tender  you  tho  warmest  thanks  of  tho  Directors  for 
the  lively  interest  you  have  so  evidrntly  evinced  for  tlie  success  of 
this  undertaking. 

"  The  marliine  shall  bo  submitted  to  tho  English  and  American 
BcientUic  authorities  who  are  engaged  in  afflisting  vm  with  thrir 
judgment  as  to  the  right  means  fur  laying  th<)  Cable  next  auiuiuor, 


254 


Appendix. 


and  I  am  quite  certain  it  will  receive  at  their  hands  a  perfectly  fair 
and  especial  consideration.     Again  thanking  you  for  your  kindness, 
"  I  am,  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

"  Geo.  Slward,  Secretary. 
"Hiram  Berdan,  Esq.,  110  Broadway,  New  York." 

It  is  pertinent  to  remark  that  in  ilr.  Berdan's  letter  to  Mr,  Field  of 
tlie  25th  of  January,  the  former  laid  great  stress  upon  the  importance 
of  properly  adjusted  scrapers  to  remove  the  tar  from  the  sheaves. 
In  that  letter,  in  describing  his  machinery,  Mr.  Berdan  writes: — 
"  At  a  convenient  point  in  the  frames  B  anil  D,  as  well  as  the 
other  sheave  frames,  I  place  shafts,  having  scrapers  attached  there- 
to, of  auch  forms  as  to  fit  the  grooves  in  the  sheave  wheels.  The 
axes  of  these  shafts  are  placed  at  such  a  distance  fiom  the  periphery 
of  the  sheave  wheels  as  to  allow  the  shaft  to  rotate  freely  on  its 
axis,  the  scrapers  just  touching  the  whole  inner  surface  of  the 
grooves  in  the  sheaves;  a  handle  on  tl'o  outer  end  of  the  shaft 
serves  to  hold  the  scrapers  in  a  proper  position  to  remove  any  tar 
that  may  be  adheriiii,'  to  the  surface  of  the  sheaves.  On  the  top  of 
tlie  frames,  and  inuuciliatoly  over  the  sheavus,  I  place  water  cans, 
having  an  outlet  over  eacli  sheave  to  wet  the  Cable,  and  prevent  in 
Jiart  the  a  ■(mmulation  of  tar  on  the  slicav.-s,  as  well  as  to  assist  in 
the  cleaning  operation  of  the  rapcrs."  Again,  in  Mr.  Berdan's 
letter  to  Mr.  Fl  Id,  dated  tlio  27th  of  March  last,  Mr.  Berdan  writes 
as  follows: — "Constant,  drijjping  of  wa'er  on  the  shi'aves,  together 
with  tlie  use  of  an  iustruiueut  whicii  can  be  applied  with  accuracy 
every  lew  moments  to  take  olVllie  aceuiiuiiatiou  of  tar,  is  also  very 
important, — water  is  preferable  to  oil,  a-t  the  latter  would  dissolve 
the  tar  on  the  Cal>le,  which  is  not  desirable." 

()n  tiie  M[  ol  June  lollownig,  Mr.  Everett  makes  a  report  to  Mr. 
Field  in  which  occurs  the  following:— "  The  operation  of  the  ma- 


Appendix. 


255 


chinery  generally,  is  certainly  satisfactory,  and  there  is  no  alteration 
I  can  suggest  other  than  in  the  tar  scrapers,  which  will  require 
modification ;  the  amount  of  tar  acc«mulating  is  so  much  beyond 
what  could  have  been  expected  from  last  year's  experience,  owing 
to  the  repeated  coatings  since  it  was  unloaded  from  the  vessel  last 
October,  that  extraordinary  provision  will  be  required."  It  clearly 
appears  from  Mr.  Everett's  report  that  Mr.  Berdan  did  not  attach 
too  much  importance  10  the  tar  scrapers,  and  that  his  recommenda- 
tions, which  ought  to  have  been  adopted  at  first,  were  found  abso- 
lutely necessary  at  last. 

The  question  now  accrues,  and  it  is  one  o''  importance  :  To  whom 
is  the  credit  due  for  devising  the  paying  out  apparatus  which  was 
used  in  successfully  laying  the  Atlantic  Cable  ?  Mr.  Everett  is 
doubtless  entitled  to  a  full  share  of  credit  for  superintending  the 
constructing  of  the  machinery,  and  for  the  exercise  of  a  sound  dis- 
cretion in  adoptiUj,'  from  the  numerous  difforent  suggestions  sub- 
mitted to  the  Company,  such  iis  appeared  to  him  most  feasible.  It 
seems  equally  clear  that  in  the  exercise  of  his  judgment  in  converse 
with  the  other  able  engineers  of  the  Company,  the  principle  of  Mr. 
Berdan's  compensating  apparatus,  and  the  arrangement  and  .se  of 
the  tar  scrapers,  with  some  modifications,  were  aiKipted  and  used  ; 
and  as  tha<?e  two  features  in  the  apparatus  were  the  principal  novelties 
and  improvements  upon  the  old  machine,  it  is  certainly  fair  to  give 
Mr.  Br  Ian  the  full  credit  of  their  introduction,  especially  as  Mr. 
Everett  and  the  other  engineers  had  the  model,  drawing,  an<l  speci- 
fications of  the  same  constantly  before  them. 


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